Mumbai Metro Three snippets

Rattled by the failure of the Charkop-Mankhurd-Bandra Metro to attract bidders for its construction, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has changed its plans for the third Metro line between Colaba and Bandra. Before floating a tender for the third line, the MMRDA has decided to undertake a comprehensive study on how underground station areas can be commercially exploited to earn revenue for construction expenses. The 20-km Colaba-Bandra route with 14 underground and two elevated stations is estimated to cost Rs 12,000 crore. “We want to assure bidders that they can generate money by commercially exploiting the corridor,” a senior MMRDA official said. “The authority intends to explore the possibility of developing underground shopping and commercial complexes along the corridor,” MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad added.