Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro to be completed on time: MMRDA

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) today said its ambitious Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro project would be commissioned on time in June 2011.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday said its ambitious Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro project would be commissioned on time in June 2011.

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"There were apprehensions about the project being completed on time. But now I can say that the entire project would be commissioned by June 2011, which is well ahead of the schedule. Nearly 68 per cent of the work has already been completed till date," Metropolitan Commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad, told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The project was awarded in 2007 and the commencement of operations was scheduled in 2012.

"But we have completed the project well ahead of the deadline. The work on the project actually began in 2008 after overcoming various hurdles. But we have managed to almost complete the project within three-years," he said.

The trial run of the first metro train has already been carried out, Gaikwad said.

"The second rake would arrive in the city by December-end and its trial run will be carried out in January.

By March, six rakes will arrive in the city and will start plying on the VAG route by June 2011," Gaikwad said.

Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd, a special purpose vehicle, a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure, the MMRDA and French multinational Veolia was formed to undertake the first metro project worth Rs 2,356-crore.