Mumbai Metro switches trains

The Mumbai Metropolitin Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to put the Colaba-Charkop line on the backburner and push for Charkop-Mankhurd line instead.

According to original plans in the first phase three lines were to be undertaken, Ghatkopar-Varsova, Colaba-Charkop and Bandra-Mankhurd.

However for various reasons including high cost and longer period for completion due to underground component in this section, MMRDA has decided to put this line on the backburner.

As per original plans of the MMRDA, out of 38.26 Kilometer long route a 10 kilometer stretch between Colaba and Mahalaxmi was to be underground and the estimated cost of the entire project was around Rs 8,726 crore.

However due to dense population in the island city and narrow roads it was decided that, entire stretch of this line in the island city between Colaba and Mahim will be underground and rest will be elevated.

But this decision increased the cost of project manifold and estimated time for completion also increased and that's why it was decided to extend Mankhurd-Bandra line upto Charkop, said sources in the state government.

Besides this, Colaba-Charkop line doesn't serve original purpose of the Mumbai Metro Project of increasing East-West connectivity in Mumbai, Colaba-Charkop line was almost parallel to the existing Western Railway suburban line, even though it would have helped to reduce the passing load on Western Railway to some extent, sources pointed out.

According to the preliminary estimates of MMRDA the new 32 kilometer line will cost around Rs 6,200 crore and state government will require to provide viability gap funding (VGF) of Rs 1,658 crore and besides this both central and state government will be required to give tax concession to developer to the tune of Rs 950 crore to ensure that, project becomes economically viable.

It is expected that, the proposal for the line between Charkop and Mankhurd will be given approval by the MMRDA's board which is chaired by the chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in its meeting on Thursday and then it will go to the state cabinet for final approval.