MMRDA plans a 118-km Metro network for Mumbai

In what could change the way Mumbaiites travel, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has finalised an ambitious plan to build a Metro network with lines that cover 118km across the city.

In what could change the way Mumbaiites travel, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has finalised an ambitious plan to build a Metro network with lines that cover 118km across the city.

A-file-photo-of-the-Mumbai-Metro-HT-photo

The plan, which has been put on the table after updating the original Metro master plan, includes for new Metro lines in addition to the proposed Metro 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) and Metro 4 (Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane- Kasarvadavli). Both Metro 3 and Metro 4 already have state government approval.

The four new lines that have been proposed are Mankhurd-Bandra-Kurla Complex (12km), DN Nagar- Dahisar (18km), Andheri East-Dahisar East (17km) and JVLR-Kanjurmarg (12km).

The MMRDA is expected to submit the revised master plan to the state government on August 20 during the meeting of its governing authority headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Besides that, a detailed plan of two of the new lines – Andheri East-Dahisar East and DN Nagar- Dahisar – will also be submitted for approval. The detailed project report (DPR) for these two lines has been prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

“We are going to seek approval for the revised plan of 118-km metro network, as well as Andheri East- Dahisar East metro line in the meeting. If the DPR for DN Nagar-Dahisar line is received in the next few days, it will also be put before the authority,” said Sanjay Sethi, MMRDA additional commissioner.

Of the four proposed lines, the JVLR-Kanjurmarg line will be built along the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR). It will be linked to Metro 3 at SEEPZ. The Metro 3 is being developed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation with financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Metro 4 (Wadala- Ghatkopar-Thane- Kasarvadavli) line will have an underground line from Wadala to Kapurbawdi, while the rest of the stretch till Kasarvadavli (in Thane) is proposed to be elevated.

MMRDA is planning to develop all future Metro lines on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode, commonly known as the cash-contract system.

“We are going to build these lines on EPC mode, in which we will seek financial assistance from funding agencies such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, etc,” Sethi said.

The state is expected to incur expenses of about Rs 64,000 crore to develop the city’s Metro network by 2020.