Can South Mumbai solve its traffic problem by selecting an elevated walkway to get across town or a dedicated tram system?
Debate rages in corridor of power
Mumbaikars are caught in a quagmire. Can South Mumbai solve its traffic problem by selecting an elevated walkway to get across town or a dedicated tram system that runs alongside its busy thoroughfare? The state has started a discussion to find a resolution, and the meetings are throwing up more questions than answers. DNA reporter Surendra Gangan has tried to jot down the pros and cons of each system to let the reader decide what’s best for Mumbai
MUMBAI: No two departments within the state government agree on whether trams or skybuses would make travel hassle-free and easier for Mumbaikars commuting within South Mumbai. Some want the skybus that will serve the CST-Churchgate-Nariman Point corridor, while others have batted for the tram for the same area.
Dr DK Sankaran, state chief secretary, chaired a meeting on November 17 to discuss the different transportation options to alleviate traffic congestion in Mumbai. Representatives from Essar Steel made a presentation at the meeting to pitch the Skybus project before officials of the state Transport Department, state General Administrative Department, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Konkan Railway, which owns the rights of Skybus development.
The Transport Department sent a letter to the Konkan Railway, requesting information on the feasibility aspect of the project — Can the project be undertaken? How long will take to set up Skybus? How much will it cost?
“We have asked MMRDA to submit its report on Skybus,” said an official from the Transport Department, on condition of anonymity. “The meeting ended on a positive note.”
Ketan Gokhale, managing director of the Konkan Railway, confirmed his agency has received a letter from the Transport Department, soliciting information regarding Skybus.
“We are confident that we will complete this project on time, and within budget,” he said. “The 3.5km project is estimated to cost Rs200 cr and its proposed route will be CST-Bombay Gymkhana-Azad Maidan-Eros-Nariman Point and back. We will complete the project in a year’s time from the start date.”
The Transport Department has also asked the MMRDA to state its concerns since its underground Metro Rail project will run alongside the skybus.
DNA spoke to a senior MMRDA official regarding the fact-finding letter, but he declined to comment, saying, “We have yet to receive any letter regarding skybus from the Transport Department.”
Meanwhile, the Transport Department is keen to enter into a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement with parties interested in the skybus project. Essar, which made a presentation on the project, has refused to comment.
“We are exploring the opportunity, but it is a bit pre-mature to comment on it,” said an Essar spokesperson. While the Transport Department is leaning towards the Skybus option, some officials within the same agency have raised concerns, saying that the project is unsafe for Mumbai.
“Trams are more safe and an ideal alternative mode of transport for South Mumbai,” said Sanjay Ubale, state secretary of special projects. “Trams are safer because they have a low accident rate. They are cheaper to build and maintain, more spacious than BEST buses, and in use in most metropolitan cities in the world.”
If a tram system is constructed, it is estimated to cost Rs35-45 cr per kilometre, and the project will take two years to complete.
Another officer with the state General Administrative Department alluded to the Skybus accident in Goa two years ago. “It’s not advisable to pursue a similar project for Mumbai,” he said.
But Gokhale downplayed the incident. He said, “The accident happened during the project’s development stage. Since then, the project has been certified by Germany-based TUV, an internationally acclaimed company that certifies railway projects.”
Another Transport Department official raised doubts about the infrastructure and land needed to implement a tram system. “Where are we going to find the space for trams, which require 12-to-16 lane roads?” he said. “European countries and even Kolkata have multi-lane roads for trams.”
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