The Panvel-Karjat rail link project achieved significant progress as recently, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC Ltd.) successfully witnessed the breakthrough of Tunnel-2 (Wavarle). This breakthrough will lead to further progress towards rapid completion of the double line corridor for extending suburban rail services.
More Details:
Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC Ltd.), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, successfully achieved the breakthrough of Tunnel-2 (Wavarle) as part of the Panvel-Karjat project under MUTP-3. This tunnel, the longest in the Mumbai Suburban Railway Network, saw excavation commence on February 22, 2023, and conclude successfully on June 7, 2024. This milestone marks a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to enhance Mumbai’s suburban rail infrastructure.
Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor (Double Line):
- Presently, a single line track (28.15 km) connects Panvel with Karjat. This alignment traverses the Talukas of Panvel, Khalapur and Karjat of Raigad District of Maharashtra State. It caters to goods and a few long distance passenger trains.
- The Navi Mumbai area, especially around Panvel, has witnessed significant urbanisation and population growth in recent years.
- The area between Panvel and Karjat is also developing very fast and there is increasing demand for extending the suburban rail services to Karjat.
- MRVC has therefore proposed a double line for extending the suburban rail services on the Panvel section.
- The proposed double line corridor from Panvel to Karjat is almost parallel to the existing track with diversion between Wavarle and Karjat with a total alignment length of 29.5 km.
- Between Wavarle and Karjat the new alignment will be at about 600m from the existing line in the East/ North side. The double line is proposed to be located on the left of the existing line from Panvel to Karjat.
- There are two tunnels on the existing line; a smaller tunnel at Nadhal (219m length) and a larger one at Wavarle (2625m length). The proposed alignment will have three tunnels (Total: 3164 Metres Length)
- One tunnel of about 219m length is proposed near Nadhal. The second tunnel of about 2625m length and third tunnel of about 320m length are proposed near Kirawali. Separation of minimum 7.8m has been maintained between the existing and proposed lines.
- There are 34 minor bridges and 8 major bridges in the proposed alignment and 13 RUBs in this section which will be extended. There will be no level crossing along the corridor up to Karjat.
Conclusion:
The tunnel breakthrough marks an important milestone for the Panvel-Karjat rail link project and at the same time showcases the consistent efforts of MVRC to keep up with the fast pace of urbanisation and provide essential railway services to the people in a timely and efficient manner.
Source: MRVC | Images Credit: MRVC
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