Mumbai Metro One update

In a significant development that will speed up the implementation of Mumbai’s Metro rail programme, the central government has approved Rs 460 crore as its share for the first phase of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) route. Being constructed by the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd, the first route demands a share of Rs 650 crore from the state and central government. While the Centre is providing Rs 460 crore, the MMRDA and state government will provide Rs 190 crore. The remaining funds—out of the total Rs 2,356 crore cost of the project—will be arranged by the private parties. MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said the decision to fund the viability gap of Rs 460 crore for the Metro’s first line was taken last month in a meeting of top-level bureaucrats of the central government. Initially, the Centre had refused to extend the money, saying that provision for such sharing was not there when the first Metro line was started. The Centre, however, has already promised over Rs 1,500 crore share for the second line of Metro railway proposed between Charkop and Mankhurd via Bandra at the cost of Rs 7,760 crore. The executing agency the MMOPL is the joint venture of MMRDA, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Veolia transport, France. While MMRDA is a 26% stakeholder in the project; the rest of the stakes are with Reliance and Veolia. According to MMOPL sources, the MMRDA has also extended over Rs 400 crore to shift the underground utilities that were coming in way of the Metro construction. Several pillars have already come up on the route with the concrete structure of Ghatkopar station almost in place.