The minimum and maximum fare on the CST-Panvel high-speed corridor should be in the range of `10 and `50 respectively, recommended Pricewate-rhouseCoopers, the financial consultant appointed for the multi-crore project.
The price range has been formulated keeping in mind the affordability factor. “We expect 66 per cent of cost recovery of the project through fares. Other means of earning revenue will be from the commercial exploitation of the elevated-level space at the railway stations,” said an officer from Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
The techno-economic feasibility study for the `11,000-crore CST-Panvel high-speed corridor has calculated the travel time between the two locations as around 45 minutes.
“These are suggestions, and consensus of the railway board and state government will be needed,” added the officer. Revenue will also be generated through licence fee from stall operators, advertisements and pay and park facility.
The project is expected to be completed by 2018, but there could be land acquisition or relief and rehabilitation issues.
Officials expect to shift 30 per cent of the current Harbour Line suburban users and 20 per cent of the road users to this corridor. A single coach has a capacity of 300 to 350 passengers, with longitudinal design seating similar to the Delhi Metro.
To boost connectivity to Navi Mumbai, the CST-Panvel high-speed corridor will also connect the proposed international airport in the satellite city all the way to south Mumbai through the existing Harbour Line.
The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) carried out a study and according to the interim report, the tentative station locations where passengers would be able to change over to other stations on Central Railway are CST, Kurla, Vashi, Kharghar and Panvel. Others are Wadala (Harbour Line and proposed monorail), Chembur (CR and proposed monorail) and Mankhurd (CR and proposed Metro).