Mumbai elevated rail corridor project faces further delay

The Mumbai elevated rail corridor project is getting delayed due to hurdles in bringing the Maharashtra government on board and bidders' concern over eligibility criteria.
"The last date for submission of request for qualification (RFQ) has been extended to November 29 from October 20. There are certain issues raised by bidders which need to be addressed," a senior Railway Ministry official said here today.
This is for the third time that last date of RFQ submission has been extended.
The project has been short-listed by the steering group set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to accelerate growth in infrastructure.

Railways is yet to sign the state support agreement (SSA) with Maharashtra government, an essential part of the project. Unless the agreement with the state government is signed it will be difficult for the project to take off, the official said.
The state government has a major role to play in the 60-km-long project between Churchgate and Virar as shifting of utilities along the alignment is its responsibility.
While the progress of the project was today reviewed by the Planning Commission, the issues affecting the project are likely to be taken up by the PMO soon, he said.