Interim consultants invited for Metro III in Mumbai

In a boost to the third Metro railway line, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has invited interim consultants for the project.

The 33.5-kilometre long line, expected to cost around Rs 24,430 crore (at September prices), will be completely underground and wind its way to SEEPZ from Colaba via the business hub of BKC.

“The scope of services includes carrying out location survey, geotechnical investigations, preparation of tender design documents and other ancillary activities,” said Dilip Kawathkar, joint project director (PR), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The consultants are expected to be experienced in designing at least 5-km long tunnels, three underground stations, and should have provided general or interim consultancy services for one 5-km underground metro section.

The MMRDA plans to build 16 of the 27 stations on the route using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which is expensive but will not disturb people on the surface. The corridor is proposed to be implemented with loan assistance from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).