Bandra-Colaba track may run underground

In what could be termed as a major change in the metro master plan, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is looking at going back to the drawing board with regard to the 20km long metro-III which goes from Colaba to Bandra. While the present plan makes it a partially underground track, authority officials are now contemplating going back to the original plan of totally underground metro.

Explaining the concept, MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Rahul Asthana said, “As per the plan, the third metro line was to run underground up to Mahalaxmi and we were to have a car depot at the Mahalaxmi race course near the area where the stables stand at the moment. However, now we have come to know that the site comes under grade-II of heritage sites and it may not be possible to construct a car depot there. This has prompted us to go back to the drawing board.”

The official further explained that instead of going for partial underground metro, he was of the opinion to stick to the original Delhi Metro Rail Corporation plan to take it completely underground.

“The possibilities we are exploring include taking the metro completely underground up to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) via Mahim. We will also explore whether an underground car depot is feasible somewhere in BKC itself. The second line of metro (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route) will be anyway passing through BKC. Hence, the BKC car depot can be developed in to a major metro junction,” said Asthana.