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We shall inaugurate Metro if PM doesn’t have time: Wadettiwar
State opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar has threatened to inaugurate the Navi Mumbai metro service, which has been repeatedly delayed due to the unavailability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wadettiwar accused the government of delaying public service projects for political gain.
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State opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar has threatened to inaugurate Navi Mumbai metro service which has been repeatedly delayed reportedly due to the unavailability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the latest instance, 12 years in the making, the service was to be inaugurated by Modi on October 30 as per an internal communication by CIDCO to Maha Metro, the agency handling the service. The plan is again reported to have been postponed to November.
In a tweet on Wednesday Wadettiwar said, “The commissioning of the Navi Mumbai metro service has been postponed thrice. The state government is delaying public service projects citing unavailability of the PM.”
He alleged, “This is a ploy by the government to inaugurate nearer to the election. How long will the government keep harassing Navi Mumbai residents?”
Stated the Congress leader, “The government has been claiming credit by commissioning a series of incomplete projects. Who has given them the moral authority to do so? They are probably feeling guilty about it and hence the metro delay.”
Claimed Wadettiwar, “There are reports that crores of rupees will be spent on the commissioning of this project. We will do the commissioning without spending any public money.”
Lamented Wadettiwar, “The metro project was planned during the Congress-NCP alliance government. Navi Mumbai residents have waited for the service for the past 12 years. Despite planning the inauguration on October 13, 14 and then 17, it was cancelled. It is obvious that the government is misleading the residents.”
He concluded, “After PM’s Mumbai visit, he has time for Shirdi trip but no time to come to Navi Mumbai. It is regrettable that the people are not getting the service of a completed project due to lack of time for commissioning.”
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MIM too has threatened inauguration earlier
Shahnawaz Khan, Maharashtra general secretary of MIM (Student) wing has written to chief minister Eknath Shinde demanding that the service start before Diwali.
Said Khan, “Lakhs of people in Taloja and Kharghar have been suffering for years. They have to spend time and money which they cannot afford, to get to Belapur for connecting transportation. Everyone has had enough.”
He informed, “I have warned the government that if the service is not commissioned by November 14, Diwali day, MIM will conduct a symbolic inauguration of the project to bring the issue to the fore in the State.”
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Metro Rail 12 years in the making received final approval in June
CIDCO’s ambitious Navi Mumbai Metro Project Line No. 1 took 12 years to complete. The final permission came in June, when the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) issued the certificate to CIDCO to start commercial operations between Central Park and Belapur station.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during their visit to the city in June, had declared that the metro service will start in the city as soon as the CMRS certification is received.
CIDCO vice chairman and managing director Anil Diggikar, on receiving the CMRS certification, had said, “The receipt of the CMRS certificate will enable us to start commercial operations on the Belapur to Pendhar stations for the residents of Navi Mumbai soon.”
That soon has not yet happened. Said a CIDCO official said, “The project is ready and permissions received. We have started working towards the inauguration which will happen soon.”
While there has been speculation on several dates for the inauguration, lately, the authorities have been in active mode, sprucing up the areas and holding meetings.
A letter dated October 20, 2023, written by CIDCO Superintending Engineer (Metro) Santosh Ombhase to Maha-Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. has surfaced. Maha –Metro has completed the project and also appointed for operation and maintenance of the service on Line 1 by CIDCO.
The letter informs Maha-Metro that the inauguration of the metro line is scheduled on 30th October 2023 by the auspicious hands of Hon’ble Prime Minister.’ It asks the agency to carry out necessary rectifications based on the observations made by a CIDCO team following inspection of the metro stations. The agency has been asked to treat the communication as most urgent.
CIDCO sources have confirmed the authenticity of the letter. However, when contacted, CIDCO public relations officer Priya Ratambe said, “We do not have any official confirmation on the inauguration.”
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