Integrated Transport System set to transform Mumbai

Mumbai will be one step closer to becoming a

world city as the integrated transport system
envisaged for the city becomes a reality. In a
recent development, Chief Minister Devendra
Fadnavis has told the Mumbai Metropolitan
Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to
submit a feasibility report within two months
on constructing a six-lane elevated rail and road
corridor across Mumbai on single pillars above
existing railway lines.
The chief minister has also proposed integration of all modes of transport, such as BEST buses,
Monorail, Mumbai Metro and Railways, so that one can use a single ticket/smartcard to travel
seamlessly from one corner of the city to another using any mode. Taxis, auto rickshaws and
parking would be roped in at a later stage. As part of the initial stages metro, monorail, buses
and trains would be covered.
The two announcements were made recently at a function at which the state government
signed an MoU with the railway ministry to launch a special purpose vehicle (SPV) on a 50-50
partnership. The SPV will speed up implementation of rail projects in the state. The chief
minister also officially launched the Rs 11,441 crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-III
project for Mumbai region.
MUTP-III: What it entails for Mumbai
A potential game changer for the Maximum Citys transport issues, the Mumbai Urban
Transport Project (MUTP-III) will include laying of a new suburban corridor link between AiroliKalwa (elevated) on Central Railway (CR) along with doubling of tracks between Panvel-Karjat
amongst others.
The following are the major highlights of the mega transport project:
The doubling of line between Panvel-Karjat at a cost of Rs 2,204 crore have seen a growth of
nearly 40,000 passengers in the year 2014-15, according to a survey conducted by Mumbai
Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
The 8 km link from Airoli to Kalwa as an elevated corridor will connect the trans-harbour line
to the mainline. Navi Mumbai residents will benefit from this line which will connect the transharbour line that runs from Thane to Vashi with Panvel of the mainline.
Along with the new lines, commuters will also benefit as 846 additional coaches will be
procured under the MUTP-III. The new coaches will be procured at a cost of Rs 2,899 crore over

the period of next 10 years. These will replace the old coaches that cause disruptions
frequently.
Further under MUTP-III, 20 suburban stations will be developed at a total cost of Rs 1,950
crore which will have an integrated transportation system wherein there will be a separate area
for auto rickshaws and taxi parking. Also, these stations will have a better ticketing facility along
with escalators, elevators and Foot Over Bridges (FOB).
The 20 stations are Virar, Bhayander, Mira Road, Borivali, Goregaon, Andheri, Bandra, Dadar,
Lower Parel, Mumbai Central on the western line; Shahad, Kalyan, Dombivli, Thane, Mulund,
Ghatkopar, Kurla, Dadar on the Central Main line and Chembur and Wadala on Harbour line.
An integrated rail-road six-lane corridor could come up along the CST-Panvel section. The state
plans to invest Rs10,000 crore to strengthen the rail network across Maharashtra.
Fadnavis said, Our plan is to integrate entire transport system and an end-to-end solution for
Mumbai passengers. If public transport is to be made popular, the passengers would have to be
provided ease of travelling. Why not a single ticket and connectivity where individual could hop
from BEST to local train to metros or taxis with smooth connectivity?
Harbour Line to get a fillip
As part of the initiatives announced for MUTP-III the Harbour line in Mumbai will receive a
major boost. According to railway officials, it will surpass the Western Railway (WR) in terms of
infrastructure and services in the next five years. The main attractions of the Harbour line will
be as follows:
The star attraction of the line would be the air-conditioned (AC) locals on the Harbour that are
a part of the MUTP-III.
Suburban railway in Mumbai is set to expand with the much-anticipated Seawoods to Uran
line. The entire line is about 27-km-long and will have 10 stations including Uran. The stations
on this line will include Seawoods, Sagar Sangam, Targhar, Bamandongari, Kharkopar, Gavhan,
Ranjanpada, Nava-Sheva, Dronagiri and Uran.
Along with AC coaches and the new line, Harbour will also get a new signalling system called
Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) on all its lines, from Panvel to CST and Panvel to
Thane. The system is unique as it will calculate and analyse the location of each train and will
have the exact safety figures to run trains during peak-hours.
Real estate impact
The projects sanctioned under the MUTP-III have seen a substantial rise in passenger density
over the last couple of years. According to estimates, more than 75 lakh people travel by
suburban railways in Mumbai. While the passenger numbers are rising but the existing lines
cannot be expanded due to space constraints. In such a scenario, expanding and integrating the
transport system of the city is imperative.

Apart from solving the commuting woes of Mumbais working population, these transport
initiatives are also expected to improve the real estate prospects of certain areas. One of the
prime beneficiaries will be the areas falling on the Harbour line. The upcoming areas in Navi
Mumbai will benefit directly from the 8 km link connecting Airoli to Kalwa. The improved
transport system will also give a much needed boost to areas around the 20 stations to be
developed under the MUTP-III.
Interestingly, few builders were seen selling their projects on the carpet area basis.
As expected, projects having 2 and 3 BHK units comprised more than 80 per cent of the overall
new supply. Projects with 1 BHK units increased from 7 per cent to 11 per cent this quarter as
against the previous.
Projects comprising of units in the Affordable segment also increased from 39 per cent in the
last quarter to 45 per cent in Q2. This could be due to the Housing for All campaign by the
present Central government.
About 95 per cent of the units launched in Q2 2015 are apartments while remaining are Villas
and Row Houses in Bangalore.

Thanisandra Main Road witnessed maximum new launches while HSR Layout had maximum
rental availability.
Interestingly, four out of five top Rental Yield localities catch mentare area s of ITITe/S
destinations. Areas like Kundalahalli, KR Puram and Sarjapur Road saw spillover of Whitefield
and Outer Ring Road markets while Hosur Road and HSR Layout witnessed the spillover of
Electronic City.
Source: CommonFloor.com
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