After the finance minister’s announcement that the first city metro corridor between is expected to be commenced by November this year, civic officials seem to have woken up about a realistic deadline.
After the finance minister’s announcement during the budget speech that the first city metro corridor between Versova and Ghatkopar is expected to be commenced by November this year, the officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) as well as the state Urban Development Department (UDD) seem to have woken up about a realistic deadline. The top officials had a review meeting on Wednesday along with the board of directors of Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL).
According to a written statement issued by MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Rahul Asthana, the metro’s first corridor was now at its most challenging part. The construction work for the cable stayed bridge on the Western Express Highway (WEH) as well as the Rail Over Bridge (RoB) at Andheri were the two most important aspects of the 11-km-long corridor. “The works of both bridges are the crucial parts left. We have completed our tasks and MMOPL has been handed over the entire Right Of Way. We are expecting that the set time-lines would be met,” said Asthana.
“As per the project report furnished by MMOPL, about 70% of overall work is completed and 90% of foundation work is completed. The other issues like civil works, systems, station works, Metro depot and time lines pertaining to the project were discussed at the meeting,” said the statement issued by the authority. Asthana instructed MMOPL to complete the respective project works within the time-frame.
In response to the MMRDA statement, MMOPL spokesperson has said that that company has taken all necessary measures and pumped in huge resources to expedite the progress. “At present more than 5,500 people are working round the clock to complete the civil works which makes Mumbai Metro site the largest site for Infrastructure Project in Mumbai,” said the consortium spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Asthana has instructed the consortium to finish the piling works and piling caps at Andheri before monsoon. “The pier work and super structure work is expected to be completed by November 2011,” said Asthana.
However, in spite of the all out efforts of MMRDA, MMOPL and the state government, sources in the authority told DNA that it was quite unlikely that the city will see the first metro by the end of 2011. “Although the work is on in full swing, we do not expect the metro to be commenced before 2012. It will be a challenging task for the consortium even if they complete it next year,” added a top MMRDA source.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}