"Belapur-Seawood-Uran Railway Line, Approved Almost 30 Years Ago, Commissioned by Prime Minister"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 14.60-kilometer Kharkopar-Uran stretch of the Belapur-Seawoods-Uran suburban corridor on Friday, marking the completion of a project that had been in the works for more than 30 years. The corridor, built at a cost of Rs 2973.35 crore, aims to improve connectivity to the region, including its Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The second phase of the corridor, delayed for years, includes five stations, several bridges, and will now extend suburban services to Uran. The project faced numerous delays, and its completion is expected to benefit students, traders, and daily commuters by providing an affordable and eco-friendly mode of transportation. The extension is set to enhance connectivity to the SEZ area and Navi Mumbai. The corridor's first phase, between Belapur-Seawood-Kharkopar, was inaugurated in November 2018. The newly commissioned route features significant infrastructure, including bridges, road overbridges, and road underbridges, contributing to its total cost of Rs 1,433 crore. The long-awaited project faced challenges, including land acquisition, making it one of the most delayed railway projects in Maharashtra. Alongside the suburban corridor, the inauguration included the Digha Gaon station on the Thane-Vashi/Panvel transharbour line, providing modern amenities and infrastructure for local commuters.

ET