Mumbai’s Rail Woes: CSMT-Kurla 5th & 6th Line Delayed By Bureaucratic Hurdles

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has criticised Indian Railways for the significant delay in completing the 5th and 6th rail lines between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla under Central Railway, as per a Hindustan Times (HT) report. The project, which began in 2008, remains incomplete 17 years later.

According to a report made public by the CAG, the project has now been divided into two phases. Phase 1, covering the stretch from Kurla to Parel, is currently under construction. Phase 2, from Parel to CSMT, will follow.

Photo Credit: PTI

The CAG report highlighted several issues contributing to the delay. It pointed out that the Baseline Socio-Economic (BSE) survey for Phase 1 was not completed even 11 years after September 2012. Additionally, Project Affected Persons (PAPs) had not been rehabilitated as of January 2024 due to delays by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in constructing residential units at Nahur. This, in turn, caused further delays in acquiring the necessary land for the project.

The report also noted a lack of coordination between different railway zones. In December 2015, Central Railway (CR) sent a proposal to Western Railway (WR) for land transfer. However, as of January 2024, WR had not completed the transfer. These setbacks extended the project's scheduled completion date from March 2021 to March 2024.

A Central Railway official stated that work on Phase 1 is progressing despite limited land availability. The deadline for completion of this phase has now been set for December 2025.

The audit report further revealed that although Rs 500.93 crore-amounting to 56.22 per cent of the sanctioned estimate of Rs 890.89 crore-had already been spent by September 2014, only 26 per cent of the project was physically completed by January 2024. This suggests further delays beyond the revised deadline. The estimated project cost has also increased to Rs 1,337 crore.

The report found flaws in the detailed estimates prepared by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) and noted poor coordination with the state government. It also highlighted non-compliance with standard railway regulations, leading to an excessive assessment of land requirements during the planning stage.

Additionally, the audit found instances where electrical and telecommunications equipment remained unused due to contracts being issued before ensuring site availability.

Despite these challenges, land acquisition for the Kurla-Parel section is nearing completion, and construction is progressing. Phase 1 covers a 10.1-kilometre stretch from Kurla to Parel, while Phase 2 spans 7.4 kilometres from Parel to CSMT. This project aims to separate suburban rail services from long-distance trains. Currently, the Central Railway operates six tracks up to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT).