Title - Elevated rail corridor pact next week

MUMBAI: The railways will sign the state support agreement with Maharashtra next week for the Churchgate-Virar elevated rail corridor. The agreement will pave the way for inviting tenders before the end of the financial year.The project is based on the public-private partnership model and will be on design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis. Under the agreement, the state government will provide help on issues related to relief and rehabilitation, floor space index for commercial use of land, law and order among other things."After the agreement is signed next week, the request for proposal and request for qualification will be issued and tender will be finalized before end of the financial year," railway board chairman Vinay Mittal told reporters on Friday. Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation will also submit a proposal for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus-Panvel elevated corridor by August.Mittal said the first air-conditioned rake on Mumbai suburban rail will run on Western Railway by 2013. "Few services, that too experimental, will be introduced. Efforts are on to run the Churchgate-Dahanu service before March 2013."On extending the deadline for phasing out of CVMs beyond March 2013, he said, "WR and CR are working to link the sale of coupons to the unreserved ticketing system. If we manage to link it, CVMs can continue on the suburban system." Mittal said they were in touch with Unesco officials for CST's makeover.