PM performs 'bhoomi pujan' for Mumbai rail project

Mumbai, June 21 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of Mumbai Metro Rail Project under the aegis of Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and laid the foundation stone of the Rs 2,356 crore Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor at Godrej lands in north-east Mumbai.

Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar, Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Union Minister of state for PMO Prithviraj Chauhan and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil were present on the occasion.

The 146.5 km rail Mumbai master plan worth Rs 19,500 crore will be executed in three phases. The first phase includes 11.7 km Versova- Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor on line one, 38 km Colaba-Mahim-Charkop corridor on line two and 14 km on Bandra-Kurla-Mankhurd corridor on line three.

The 63 km long three lines at an estimated cost of about Rs 12,777 crore are expected to be completed by year 2010-11. The construction of Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor will be executed by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Mumbai Metro consortium led by reliance energy ltd, Anil Dhirubai Ambani group and MMRDA.

Anil was accompanied by mother Kokilaben and wife Tina.

The project will be implemented by build own operate transfer (BOOT) basis through public pvt partnership for the period of 35 years. Its execution will start by October this year and will be completed by 2009-10.

The corridor will have eight stations and the bogies will be air conditioned. There will be facilities of lift and escalators.

The distance between Versova to Ghatkopar will come down to 21 minutes from present 70 minutes. The fare structure will be 1.5 times of the BEST fare.

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