PM to launch Mumbai Metro project tomorrow

Mumbai, Jun 20: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will launch the ambitious Rs 19,525 crore Mumbai Metro rail project here tomorrow which is set to re-define the transportation system in the country's financial capital in the years to come.

Dr Singh, who will be on a day's visit to the city, will perform the Bhoomi Pujan for the Rs 2356 crore 11 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor at Godrej Land, Vikhroli at 1100 hrs. Similarly, he will inaugurate the Mumbai Metro rail Project at Shanmukhananda Hall, Sion at 1130 hrs.

Mr Anil Ambani of REL whose Reliance-ADAG group which has bagged the contract to construct Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor will also be present for the Metro Rail inauguration.

The Rs 650 crore viability gap funding (VGF) will be met through Union and State Government resources.

A special purpose vehicle (SPV), consisting of Reliance Energy Limited (REL) and MMRDA, will be executing the project. Construction of Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar of the Phase-I is likely to be completed by 2009.

The entire Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route will be on 'Standard gauge' elevated rails with 12 stations. It will have a carrying capacity of 60,000 passengers per hour, with the commuting time on the entire stretch reduced to 21 minutes from the present 70 minutes.

The first corridor, Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar, will be on an elevated route with elevated stations and will connect densely populated areas of western and eastern suburbs cutting travelling time from 70 minutes to 21 minutes.

It aims at providing relief to commuters on the most congested two-way movement throughout the day by providing access to areas such as MIDC, international airport and other commercial areas.

The route will have 12 stations, Versova, DN Nagar, Azad Nagar, Andheri, Western Express Highway, Chakala, Airport, Marol Naka, Saki Naka, Subhash Nagar, Asalpha Road and Ghatkopar.

MMRDA will hold 26 per cent equity in the SPV for which a provision of Rs 134 crore has been made. The project will run on build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis for 35 years, of which the first five years will be the construction period.

The entire Mumbai Metro project will be 146.5 km long and estimated to cost Rs 19,500 crore. The project will be completed in three phases covering a total of nine corridors.

The first phase would be fully functional by 2011, second phase by 2016 and third phase by 2021.

The first phase of the metro rail project will be an elevated corridor covering the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route, 38 km Colaba-Mahim-Charkop route and the 14 km Bandra-Kurla-Mankhurd route.

The proposed fare structure is Rs six for up to three km, Rs eight for a distance of three to eight km and Rs ten for a distance over eight km.

The metro will have air-conditioned compartments, escalators, lifts for senior citizens, automatic fare collection centres and automatic door closure system.

UNI