Mumbai Metro 3

The Maharashtra state government has requested the Centre for financial help in building the third line of the Mumbai metro from Colaba to Bandra. The help will be in the form of the viability gap funding (VGF) for the Rs 9,400-crore metro project, half of which will be underground. Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials said that a detailed proposal seeking in-principal approval to commence the bidding process for the Colaba-Bandra Metro Corridor has been sent to the department of economic affairs, ministry of finance, New Delhi. The officials said the project met with all the guidelines laid down for financial support to public private partnership (PPP), except that the expected demand for VGF would be more than the 40% prescribed for such projects. The demand for 50% VGF was mainly due to the fact that higher costs were incurred by the underground route which was needed to protect heritage sites and the limited road widths in most of the island city. The metro is expected to run underground from Colaba to Mahalaxmi. MMRDA officials pointed out that help was promised by the Centre some time ago and that several state governments were availing of the funding for the VGF for their metro projects. The first line of the metro from Versova to Ghatkopar is being built. The second line — Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd — has faced opposition from citizens groups in Vile Parle and Bandra who want an underground route. The state government proposal has also put forward suggestions to reduce the demands for VGF such as extending the concession period to the private party for operating the metro from the usual 35 to 40 years. It has also pointed out that commercial development of the elevated stations would amount to Rs 630 crore. They were also examining the commercial development of the car shed area for raising more funds. Regarding the progress of the other metro lines planned in the city and region, MMRDA officials said that detailed project reports are being prepared for the Charkop-Dhaisar route (Phase II) and the Andheri East - Dhaisar East route (Phase III) by SPAN Consultants. The Ghatkopar -Mulund route (Phase II) and the Ghatkopar -Hutatma Chowk (Phase III) by CES (I) and the Bandra Kurla Complex - Kanjurmarg via the domestic and international airports with an extension from BKC - Mahim route (Phase II) by RITES. The detailed report for the Sewri - Prahbadevi Metro Corridor has also been prepared.