14.9.10

Mumbai metro snippets


The Metro line planned from Hutatma Chowk to Ghatkopar will be changed to touch Wadala and will connect Ghatkopar, Mulund, Teen Hath Naka (Thane), Kasarvadavali (Ghorbunder Road) and Mira-Bhayandar. Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said that the changes will enable Wadala to become a important transport hub in the city. It will be connected via the Metro, monorail and the Eastern Freeway to the rest of the city. Gaikwad said that Wadala would also be home to Iconic Towers and an inter-state bus terminal. Gaikwad added that out of the nine lines laid out in the masterplan (which was prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation), it would be making major changes to three. “Connecting Mumbai airport via the Metro is still being discussed. Consultants are concerned about the viability factor as most flights take off at night. All these issues are being discussed as detailed project reports for some of the nine Metro lines in the city are coming up for finalisation,’’ said Gaikwad. As the Metro rail lines are being built on a public private partnership (PPP) basis, they have to be made viable. According to consultants, more commuters will use the Metro if there is a change to include Teen Hath Naka (Thane) and Kasarvadavali (Ghorbunder Road) along with Mira-Bhayandar. The MMRDA is already discussing the issue of putting up Metro lines on the two city highways along with special dedicated bus lanes for more rapid transport. Gaikwad fended off criticism that the two city highways would be overcrowded, saying that different segments of people have different transport needs. “We will not be competing with one another on the routes,’’ he said. According to Gaikwad, adopting the PPP model for the project has proved to be a wise move.

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