‘Govt overlooking several rail infra projects in state’
The Railways has blamed the state government for not providing adequate funds for its development plans, which has subsequently stalled the progress of many rail infrastructure projects in the city.
The allegations have come in the wake of several ministers of Maharashtra claiming that the Union railway ministry had ignored Mumbai and Maharashtra in its railway budget, which was announced on Tuesday. “It is not the railway ministry that has ignored Maharashtra and Mumbai, but the state government. The Railways has always given enough importance to the state, but it is the state, which has not been funding our projects,” said an official from the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), on condition of anonymity.
MRVC coordinates with the Railways and state and shares 50-50 percent funds from both the agencies.
“At least, four big projects — Churchgate-Virar elevated corridor, CST-Panvel elevated corridor, Panvel coaching plant and conversation of rakes from nine to 12-car — have not been pushed forward either due to want of funds or red tape. MRVC was ready with the tendering process, but the state government did not issue a GR for six months,” said the official. A senior official from WR said, “Even the much talked about Churchgate-Virar elevated corridor’s work has been stalled for the last two months because the state has not signed on the State Support Agreement so far. It has already missed two deadlines.”
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