Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led a meeting of the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail, approving 65 projects out of 131 proposed works in the initial phase. The focus was on eliminating railway level crossings in Maharashtra by enhancing necessary infrastructure. Discussions centered on constructing railway overbridges, foot overbridges, and road underpasses under the Public Works and Urban Development departments’ purview, to be managed by MahaRail.
In a bid to make Maharashtra free of railway level crossings, CM Fadnavis emphasized the need for comprehensive infrastructure development. He stressed the importance of projects that improve citizen mobility, particularly in areas with high Train Vehicle Unit (TVU) traffic. Urbanization demands have led to planning 80 railway infrastructure projects across various cities, with committees formed to assess and oversee their execution.
Fadnavis highlighted the significance of completing these projects swiftly to meet citizens’ infrastructure needs. He also addressed potential traffic issues at the Nagpur flyover and instructed proactive measures to prevent congestion. Additionally, he called for the construction of a new railway overbridge on the Amravati-Badnera route and phased implementation of projects based on priority.
To fund these initiatives, Fadnavis proposed securing loans from HUDCO and exploring alternative financing options to reduce interest costs. He urged HUDCO to evaluate market competition and lower interest rates on loans to the state government. The CM also pushed for expediting MahaRail’s administrative transfer to the Public Works Department and prompt release of payments for completed works by the state government.
