Fresh Objections From State Government May Delay Mumbai Rail Corridor

The Rs. 20,000 crore Mumbai elevated rail corridor has got fresh objections from the Maharashtra state government. The Mumbai rail project is a part of prime minister’s Rs. 1 lakh-crore stalled infrastructure related projects which are being fast tracked. The Maharashtra government has sent its objections and opinions to the Ministry of Railways.

The Mumbai Elevated Rail Corridor

The Mumbai elevated rail corridor is 63 km two-track corridor that will run parallel to the Western Line. The corridor will link Churchgate and Virar with an intention of easing the already congested Mumbai metro rail service. The corridor was proposed in 2007 by the then Central Railway Minister. It will pass through Churchgate, Chami Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Elphinston Road, Dadar, Matunga Road, Mahim junction, Bandra, Santa Cruz, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Borivali, Dahisar, Bhayandar, Naigaon, Vasai Road and Nalasopara.

There are 26 stations proposed on the corridor. Out of them, 19 stations will be elevated, 5 will be underground and 2 will be graded (at ground level). The project’s cost is estimated at Rs. 20,000 crore.

State government objections

The Maharashtra government had already raised objections earlier and were agreed to. These are in relation with the public private partnership (PPP) model being used to develop the corridor. Some of the objections are as follows:

1. The state government is not comfortable with a private developer or concessionaire being deemed party to the agreement. Instead, it wants the agreement to be between the state and the Centre.

2. The state government also does not want the developer or the operator to have the right of seeking specific performance from the state government.

3. The state government has objected to the Railway ministry’s condition that in order to protect the project’s viability, no toll, new local tax or charge can be imposed on the rail system.

4. It has said that clause waiving off sovereign immunity should not exist.

The Maharashtra chief minister is expected to meet the Railways and Planning Commission officials later this month in order to resolve the issue. However, these objections pose a new hurdle in signing the agreement and opening bids in January 2014.