INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH ON WEDNESDAY INAUGURATED AN AMBITIOUS BOMBAY RAIL PROJECT AIMED AT EASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE COUNTRY'S FINANCIAL CAPITAL. THE PROJECT, ESTIMATED TO COST 195 BILLION RUPEES (US$4.3 BILLION), WILL COVER A NETWORK SPANNING 146 KILOMETERS (90 MILES) OF BOTH ELEVATED AND UNDERGROUND RAIL ROUTES CONNECTING THE CITY'S SUBURBS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. ON WEDNESDAY, SINGH LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WILL CONNECT THE EASTERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS WITH 11.4 KILOMETERS (7 MILES) OF RAIL. WHEN COMPLETED BY 2009, TRAINS ON THIS ROUTE WILL BE ABLE CARRY AT LEAST 60,000 PASSENGERS PER HOUR. THE TRAVEL TIME FOR COMMUTERS ON THIS ROUTE WILL BE REDUCED FROM 70 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES. THE PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED BY A PRIVATE CONSORTIUM LED BY THE RELIANCE DHIRUBHAI AMBANI GROUP.
