Indian Railways has launched a mission mode to develop the surrounding areas of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway (MAHSR) stations. The Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Project-SMART.
The objective of the Project-SMART is to improve the accessibility and convenience for commuters and other stakeholders, as well as to promote economic activities in the vicinity of the station areas. The project will also enhance the institutional capacity of state governments, Municipal Corporations, and Urban Development Authorities to plan, develop, and manage the surrounding areas of MAHSR stations.
This project is expected to have a significant impact on the development of the regions around the MAHSR stations, providing a boost to the local economy and improving the overall quality of life in the area. The project is a collaborative effort between the Indian government, the Japanese government, and the JICA, which has been providing support to India in various development projects for many years.
The MoU signed between the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is specifically for the development of four high-speed rail stations along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway (MAHSR) corridor. These four stations are Sabarmati, Surat, Virar, and Thane.
It’s worth noting that out of the 12 stations along the high-speed rail corridor, only these four stations are covered under this MoU. Surat, Virar, and Thane are greenfield stations, which means that they will be developed from scratch. On the other hand, Sabarmati station in Gujarat is a brownfield development, which means that it will involve the redevelopment of an existing railway station.
The aim of this MoU is to enhance the accessibility and convenience of commuters and other stakeholders, as well as to promote economic activities in the vicinity of these four stations. The project will also help improve the institutional capacity of state governments, Municipal Corporations, and Urban Development Authorities to plan, develop, and manage the surrounding areas of these stations.
