Mangroves and forest lands as big as 30 football grounds will soon be a part of the Rs 10,947 crore plus Mumbai Urban Transport Project -3 (MUTP). The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is working out to procure 16.2 hectares (40 acres) of mangroves and forest lands for laying new rail lines. These are part of the total 129 hectares of land, that includes private and government owned land, for implementing this project that was approved in late 2016. The mangroves and forests will be hacked for laying two new rail lines between Virar-Dahanu and Panvel-Karjat which will play a big role in augmenting the connectivity of Mumbai's metropolitan region. "We have already begun the process and land measurements are more or less over," said an official from MRVC. The locations of these forest lands and mangroves will be next to the existing rail lines. The plan also includes acquiring 41 hectares of private land and 9.6 hectares of government land for quadrupling of Virar-Dahanu line. 58.5 hectares of private land and 3.6 hectares of government land will be acquired for Panvel-Karjat new suburban network. This rail line will connect the ends of eastern suburbs which are important parts of Raigad district. The third new rail line of Airoli-Kalwa which will be elevated, will help the the commuters of eastern suburbs in Thane district. The authorities have already issued work order for new railway station called Digha which is expected to be ready by 2020. All these three corridors are expected to create new central business districts. Senior railway officials also said that rehabilitation of people from 56 villages will be required, which will affect 185 households. However there has been little progress by government authorities on the same. As far as financing of this multi-crore project is concerned, it is moving at a snail's pace. Sources said that they are in touch with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) who has asked for details and clarity on this project. The World Bank, that financed the previous two phases of MUTP, have not been approached as they had asked for few changes in the working system. The project also includes procurement of 47 AC rakes for Mumbai at a cost of Rs 3,491 crore and a Rs 551 crore project to control trespassing at 22 locations known as Mid-Section Trespass Control. NEW STATION Third new rail line of Airoli-Kalwa will help the commuters of eastern suburbs in Thane district. Authorities have already issued work order for new railway station called Digha which is expected to be ready by 2020

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