Lok Sabha Question No. 3530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: Mumbai’s Congested Railway Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3530 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2018

## MUMBAI'S CONGESTED RAILWAY NETWORK

3530. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  huge  congestion, line crack and mechanical failure in the Mumbai Suburban Railways;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measure being contemplated by the Government to decongest these lines;
- (d) whether proposals of executing two new major lines to decongest the rail network of Mumbai on cost sharing basis with the Government of Maharashtra are under consideration of the Government;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the  time  by  when  these  proposals  will  be  approved  to  provide relief to Mumbai Railway commuters?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  3530  BY  DR.  KIRIT  SOMAIYA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  08.08.2018  REGARDING  MUMBAI'S CONGESTED RAILWAY NETWORK

- (a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Madam.  Mumbai  Suburban  Railway  network  caters  to approximately 8.0 million commuters every day resulting in overcrowding.    A  total  of  18  line  crack  cases  (Rail  fracture/Weld failure)  and  127  Mechanical  failures  (C&W/Diesel  loco  failure)  were reported  by  the  Central  Railway  in  Mumbai  suburban  area  for  the period April to July 2018.  As regards, Western Railway Rail fractures were nil and Unit failure in 2017-18 were 40 cases and in 2018-19 till date - 42 cases were reported.

Counter  measures  against  line  crack  and  mechanical  failures  are taken  round  the  clock  with  a  view  to  cause  no  hardship  to  the commuters and related Rail/Road traffic.

- (c) The measures being contemplated by the Railways to decongest these lines in Mumbai are as under:
- (i) Provision  of  4  aspect  signals  in  place  of  3  Aspect  signals  in Churchgate-Borivali section has been completed.
- (ii) Extension of suburban platform for running of 15 car EMU trains on slow corridor of Andheri-Virar section is sanctioned in Preliminary Works Programme 2017-18 on Out Of Turn basis.
- (iii) Extension  of  Harbour  Line  from  Andheri  to  Goregaon,  executed by MRVC- Completed.

Following  further  steps  have  been  contemplated  by  the  railways  to reduce overcrowding on Mumbai Suburban:

-  Additional  5th  &  6th  lines  between  Kurla-Thane  on  Central Railway.
-  3 rd & 4 th  lines between Borivali-Virar on Western Railway.
- 
- 5 th  Line between Santacruz-Borivali on Western Railway.
-  Procurement  of  909  new  EMU  coaches  and  inducted  in  the system.
-  Western Railway.
-  MRVC.
-  Central Railway.

6th  Line  between  Mumbai  Central-Borivali  being  executed  by 5th  and  6th  line  Thane-Diva  Central  Railway  being  executed  by 5th  and  6th  Lines  between  CSTM-Kurla  being  executed  by

(d) & (e) New lines which are proposed under MUTP 3A on cost sharing basis are as follows:-

(i) Western Line (Projects under Sanction) -

-  New Suburban corridor between Panvel-Virar.
-  Extension of Harbour Line between Goregaon to Borivali.
-  5th & 6th Line between Borivali to Virar.

(ii) Central Line (Projects under Sanction) -

-  Fast elevated corridor between CSMT-Panvel.
-  4th line between Kalyan-Asangaon.
-  3rd & 4th line between Kalyan-Badlapur.
- Kalyan Yard-Segregation of long distance and suburban traffic.

(f) Detailed  plan  for  execution  and  targets  dates  will  be  finalized only after approval of Niti Aayog and Cabinet Committee. Hence, time frame cannot be given.

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