28.11.09

Monorail to link Thane, Kalyan

MMRDA, the nodal agency for Mumbai's monorail plan, has now proposed a new route connecting Thane Bhiwandi and Kalyan. Tenders for the project, estimated to cost Rs 3,750 crore, could be invited by the end of December, a spokesperson for the MMRDA said. The 30-km-long route, which will have a station at every kilometre, would be implemented through public-private partnership, he said. A feasibility study found the project feasible. The MMRDA, whose jurisdiction runs up to Mumbai’s distant satellite townships like Khopoli, Vasai and Uran, has tied up with the municipal corporations of Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli for the project. MMRDA, which is the nodal and implementing agency for transport network projects worth $32 billion between 2008-2016, is trying to integrate the larger metropolitan region with the island city in an economical way. Joint metropolitan commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the exponential rise in the population of the metropolitan region in the past few decades has necessitated faster development of transport systems. “The Metro and the monorail will act as support capillaries to the lifeline of Mumbai, the local trains,” said Ms Bhide. The work on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro and India’s first monorail, which will run from Chembur to Jacob Circle, is already under way. The second Metro project — from Charkop to Mankhurd — has been awarded to a consortium led by Reliance Infra, while the feasibility study for the third Metro — from Colaba to Bandra — is in progress. A consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Scoomi Engineering, Malaysia, is constructing the first monorail corridor, an 11.28 km route connecting Jacob Circle, Wadala and Chembur. The project cost is estimated at Rs 2,460 crore and the date of completion is April 2011. In the next phase, the MMRDA plans to extend monorail to Badlapur.

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