Will Mumbai's harbour line finally get a 12-coach rail?

While presenting the Railway Budget in Parliament today, Dinesh Trivedi once again made a lot of promises for Mumbai’s railways, the most prominent one being an elevated train from Churchgate to Virar in the Western Line.

The city’s harbour line could finally get some relief as Trivedi said the line will finally get 12 coach rakes after the study is completed.

A new railway line from Seawood area near Vashi to Uran to link the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust could be built after a feasibility study.

Trivedi also said that conversion of electrical system will be completed for suburban railways by 2012-13 and modern rakes will be introduced.

The Railway Budget also plans to start a coaching complex and terminal in Navi Mumbai.The Budget aims to cut travel time between metros via faster trains, and plans to spend Rs 39,110 crore in five years to modernise signaling.

Studies are also being done on an an elevated rail corridor in Mumbai which will be executed under the public private model.

Trivedi said another study is being carried out on a premium airconditioned train in Mumbai. Mamata Banerjee had made similar promises last budget but failed to deliver on any one of them.