NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced the upcoming launch of ‘Mumbai 1’, a unified smart card for public transport across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Speaking at a joint press conference with Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Fadnavis said the card will allow seamless travel across Metro, Mono Rail, local trains and public buses.
“The card’s architecture will be finalised within a month,” he added.
Railway Minister Vaishnaw shared that infrastructure works worth Rs 1.73 lakh crore are currently underway in Maharashtra, with an additional Rs 23,778 crore worth of new projects sanctioned this year. He also revealed that 238 new air-conditioned local trains have been approved for Mumbai’s suburban railway network, with manufacturing to commence shortly.
Highlighting the scale of investment in the city, Vaishnaw said projects worth Rs 17,000 crore are in progress in Mumbai alone, which will significantly modernise the city’s railway system.
Fadnavis further said that the Gondia-Ballarshah railway line in eastern Maharashtra has received approval. The project will enhance connectivity between Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, with the Centre contributing Rs 4,019 crore to its funding.
In a boost to tourism, the chief minister also announced the upcoming Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circuit Train, which will take passengers through historic locations and forts associated with the Maratha warrior king.