Elevated Rail Corridor in Mumbai
Prakash M Apte
Urban Development Consultant
This has reference to "Elevated Rail Corridor Plan..." ( TOI 26th March).
The "unprecedented alacrity" shown by all concerned officials is quite understandable. The cost of such an elevated churchgate-Virar corridor
( excluding the rolling stock) may be in excess of Rs. 6500 crores! The ministry of Railways proposes to appoint consultants to prepare a feasibility report for the elevated rail corridor. Is it possible to include in the Consultant's scope of work, suggesting options to the elevated corridor? For example, as I have been advocating for the last 20 years, it is possible to run double Decker trains on the existing tracks by constructing just an elevated platform over the existing ones to facilitate passengers to board and detrain at the upper level. This will (unfortunately) save the major cost of civil works for the elevated track and laying of another set of tracks and may mean a reduction in the cost of the project by at least 75%.ie. from around Rs. 6500 crores to only Rs.1625 crores. The officials would no doubt consider such a suggestion "Blasphemy"!
Because, lesser the cost, lesser the kick backs for the officials, and the politicians. So why should the Ministry ask for such cost saving options? After all in our country, projects are undertaken for their propensity to generate kickbacks for all concerned and any benefit accruing to general public is incidental and unintended!
Prakash M Apte
March 2008