MMRDA calls bids for Mumbai east-west MRTS corridor

More than 24 international construction consortiums, including Siemens, Alstom, Bombardier, Singapore Mass Rapid Transport Systems, Americal Maclev, Masstroika and Indian construction majors (in consortium) with Gammon India and Hindustan Construction Company are expected to file fresh bids for the ambitious Rs 1,178 crore mass rapid transit system (MRTS) to facilitate a corridor between Versova (western suburb of Mumbai)-Andheri and Ghatkopar (in the east).

Confirming this, the Maharashtra Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) chief transport and communications director PRK Murthy said, "Twenty four international consortiums had applied for the project with MMRDA earlier and are expected to submit their tenders for the bids that have now been invited by us. The project entails a public-private participation, with MMRDA willing (optional) to take up an equity of a maximum 26 per cent of the project."

Murthy added that the Rs 1,178 crore project envisages a 14 km long totally elevated rail network with a total number of 13 stations through its course.

"The project is expected to be ready for commissioning by 2008 end. The performance certificates would be issued for an hourly transport of 40,000 commuters through the MRTS or 4,78,000 per day. The finalisations of the bids is estimated to be completed within three to four months," Murthy said.

The project involves an elevated rail component of 3.36 km between Versova and Andheri, 8.08 km from Andheri to Ghatkopar and 1.26 km from the domestic airport to the international airport in Andheri.

The thirteen stations that would be created include Andheri, Western Express Highway, Chakala, airport road, Marol Naka, Sakinaka, Subhash Nagar, Asalpha Road, Ghatkopar, Sahar car depot, Azad Nagar, D N Nagar and Versova (terminus).

MMRDA had carried out a joint study with Germany-based Tewet, De-Consult and Tata Consultancy Services as consultants.