Mumbai: MMRC calls for consultants for Metro III project

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has called for consultants for the proposed 32.5 km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro line III.

The company has invited expression of interest for consultants for the Rs 23,136 crore project including integrated testing and commissioning of the corridor.

"The consultant will conduct a detailed study of the project, which will also include environmental issues. We will then submit the report to the state government," MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawathkar said.

The Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd metro II corridor, a fully-elevated 32-km long stretch, at present is stuck due to pending environment clearance for a car depot planned to take care of maintenance works.

The state government is understood to be also looking at alternative sites for the depot, which may change the alignment of the line completely and could lead to the re-bidding of the project.

MMRC has been pledged a loan from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) towards the cost of the third line, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan, which is around Rs 500 crore, for procurement of consultancy services, Kawathkar said.

The procedure for appointing consultant is expected to be completed by October, he said.

The Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro line III connects Colaba in south Mumbai to Seepz in the north. The total length of the fully underground corridor is 32.5 km, with 27 stations.

In June 2012, MMRC had appointed interim consultant for the same project to carry out detailed topographical surveys, geotechnical investigations, utility mapping, etc.