DELHI: The railways ministry may soon announce India’s largest ever investment in suburban rail infrastructure to revamp the overloaded networks in Mumbai and Bengaluru at a cost of more than Rs 50,000 crore.
The mega plan does not entail any burden on the exchequer or passengers as railways would sell its prime land parcels to raise funds, a senior official told The Economic Times.
“A self-funding model is being worked out, as part of which private developers and operators will also be engaged, he said on condition of anonymity.
Once approved by the cabinet, this will be the second largest greenfield rail development project to be undertaken by the Narendra Modi government after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor plan.
“Rail infrastructure in both cities is overburdened and creaking. We are planning to build elevated corridors along existing rail lines, given the lack of land, to increase capacity,” the official said. “Stations would be upgraded to airport-like terminals where arrivals and departures would be separate.” A 160-km long network has been planned for Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. The state is set to go to the polls later this year.
“Rail infrastructure in both cities is overburdened and creaking. We are planning to build elevated corridors along existing rail lines, given the lack of land, to increase capacity,” the official said. “Stations would be upgraded to airport-like terminals where arrivals and departures would be separate.” A 160-km long network has been planned for Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. The state is set to go to the polls later this year.
