MMRDA to undertake skywalk and mono-rail projects

Mumbai, Sep 28 (UNI) As part of the Maharashtra Government's efforts to improve transportation and infrastructure in the Metropolis, Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) will undertake skywalk (elevated footover road) at 20 railway stations and a mono-rail project, the first in the country.

The skywalk project, connecting Bandra east and west, will start near the railway station in the next three months. The mono-rail project will start in the next two years on a pilot basis.

The decision was taken at meeting of MMRDA chaired by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh here today.

The skywalk will enable decongestion of crowd and traffic around railway stations. An expenditure of Rs 600 crore is estimated for constructing skywalks at 20 railway stations and Rs 50 crore would be spent in the year 2007-08.

Tenders will be invited for construction of skywalk from Bandra railway station on the east side to Bandra-Kurla complex and Bandra railway station on the west to Hill road and Turner junction on a pilot basis.

The Rs 1500 crore mono-rail project would start functioning in the next two years. Each km would cost Rs 60 to 70 crore. International consultants would be appointed for the feasibility study and the process is expected to be completed by March 2006.

Similarly, under Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project, Rs 575 crore worth projects were sanctioned. The projects will be implemented in three phases.

UNI