The project, which was launched in 2009 under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project-II, is a joint execution between the railway ministry and the Maharashtra government through the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited. It was strategically designed to bolster capacity on the heavily congested CST-Kurla corridor by effectively separating suburban services from long-distance and freight operations. Despite its critical importance to Mumbai's transit infrastructure, the panel identified a significant disconnect where the capital consumed far outpaces the milestones achieved.
Originally slated for completion by March 2021, the venture has been plagued by a series of systemic failures. According to official findings, the progress has been stifled by slow land acquisition, poor inter-agency coordination, contract irregularities, and persistent encroachments on railway land. These administrative and legal hurdles have pushed the project years past its deadline, leaving the promised separation of traffic in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
The PAC’s findings underscore a troubling lack of oversight in the management of high-stakes infrastructure. By highlighting the discrepancy between the Rs 890.89 crore budget utilization and the lackluster 26 per cent completion rate, the committee has placed a spotlight on the inefficiencies stallling the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited’s efforts. This report serves as a critical indictment of the delays that continue to hinder the modernization of Mumbai's most essential transport corridors.
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