20.11.14

Mumbai Metro snippets


Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) plans to commence work on the Dahisar-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro II and the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane Metro IV corridors simultaneously on a cash-contract basis. Both the projects would be placed before the MMRDA authority meeting on Thursday for approval. The state government has already decided against executing work on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis after the not-so-good experience with the Metro I (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) corridor.
Sanjay Sethi, managing director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), said, “If the authority clears the project, it will be placed before the state cabinet for approval.“
Meanwhile, Metro III work has gathered steam as MMRCL has already shortlisted nine consortiums in the pre-qualification stage. It is expected to invite requests for proposal (RFP) this week.
The state government would replicate the Metro III (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz corridor) model for executing both these projects. A senior official said, “We may opt for financial assistance from World Bank or Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has agreed to provide 52% of the funds for Metro III.“ An official said, “It will take at least a year to achieve financial closure and get the required clearance from statutory authorities, including the ministry of environment and forests.“
MMRDA officials hope to complete work on the project in five years after the contract is awarded. The Wadala-GhatkoparThane corridor would originate close to the monorail station (offering connectivity betweeen Chembur and Jacob Circle via Currey Road station) and terminate at Kasarvadavali. It will run underground on LBS Road and offer interchange facility with suburban train and Metro I station at Ghatkopar.
The government had earlier proposed a metro route within Thane city by connecting the Teen Haath Naka, Kapurbawadi and Ghodbunder. Since many commute from Thane to Mumbai for work, a decision was taken to connect Thane with Wadala.
The Metro II project was scrapped after there was no progress on the ground because MMRDA was not able to provide a right of way. The project was awarded to R-Infra-led consortium through an international competitive bidding in 2009. The project was expected to be completed in 2015 but both R-Infra and the state government have agreed to mutually terminate the agreement.
An MMRDA official said, “The project has been planned totally underground because the elevated corridor can lead to a delay due to relief and rehabilitation issues, besides making a mess of traffic and road infrastructure while carrying out the work.“
The Dahisar-Bandra-Mankhurd project is the longest underground network among all the metro projects. It would also be the most expensive as the cost is expected to be Rs 28,900 crore.

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