MSRDC proposes `3,500-cr ring metro around Thane city

Even as ongoing infrastructure projects are far from completion, state agencies seem to be competing with each other to announce newer ones.

Even as ongoing infrastructure projects are far from completion, state agencies seem to be competing with each other to announce newer ones.

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The most recent one is that of cash-strapped Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) which is now planning a Rs. 3500-crore ring metro around Thane city. The proposed metro, with 11 stations will form a ring around Thane city and other important places in the city.

“In October we will be floating a tender for people who are interested in bidding for the project. Their bids will be evaluated and final tenders will be called in within six months,”said MSRDC special advisor Technical Projects SR Nandgirikar.

MSRDC is planning to build the project on a public private partnership basis and is hoping to raise its contribution from funds like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had in 2009 proposed the construction of a 10.95-km metro line from Anand Nagar Naka to Teen hath Naka- Cadbury-Golden Dyes going up to Kasarvadavli. However with the MMRDA struggling to complete metro lines within Mumbai itself, the project seemed to have been stalled.

However, eyebrows are being raised at the MSRDC’s proposal of the Thane Metro project which is part of the Thane mass rapid transit system plan against the background of its already-existing debt of Rs. 4,000 crore.