Mumbai Metro first trial run marks Maharashtra Day

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority carried out a metro rail trial run between Versova and Azadnagar in Andheri on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, covering 3 km.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who flagged off the run, announced the trials would continue for the next few months, in order to secure certification from the commissioner, Railway Safety.

Mr Chavan said that “We expect the first phase from Versova to the airport road to start around September, and the second from the airport road to Ghatkopar by the year end.”

The project is being developed under a public-private-partnership by a Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium, Mumbai Metro One.

The 11.4 km elevated tracks will connect the western suburb of Versova to the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar through Andheri. There will be 12 stations, and it will take 21 minutes to cover the distance, compared to the one and a half hours by road.

The capacity of one coach will be 295 passengers, while the capacity of one train, comprising four coaches, is estimated to be 1,178 passengers. The metro is expected to carry 600,000 commuters a day. The fares are expected to be between INR 10 and INR 15.

The project cost was envisaged at INR 2,356 crore and MMRDA had predicted an implementation schedule between 2007 and 2012. However, it has been delayed due to issues relating to clearances from the environment, railways, civil aviation and security agencies. Besides, problems in land acquisition and rehabilitation of project-affected persons also led to revision in the schedule.

Source - Business Standard

Mumbai metro’s first look gets city’s thumbs up

After a decade of planning and five years after work began, the trial of Mumbai’s first metro line, the Versova-Andheri Ghatkopar corridor, finally started on Wednesday, with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan flagging off the train at Versova station.
After coping with dug-up roads and traffic jams owing to metro construction work for half a decade, Mumbaiites living along this route can look forward to cutting down some of their commute this September, by when the Versova-Saki Naka stretch is expected to start running.
Compared to Bangalore, Mumbai is desperately behind schedule as far as the implementation of the metro is concerned. The first line of Bangalore metro, a 33-km elevated and underground network with 32 stations, was delayed by 19 months and was available for use in 2011. Mumbai’s first 11.4 km line is already three years behind schedule and is expected to be fully operational by December (only the Versova-Saki Naka stretch will be ready by September).
Chavan defended the delay by arguing that Mumbai’s case was unique. “There are hundreds of utilities running below the ground and each pillar had to be designed accordingly. To build a metro in such an area is an engineering feat,” he said.
The CM said he wanted the Centre to appoint a regulatory body to deal with hurdles faced by urban transport and infrastructure projects. “I have recommended to the Centre that there should be an appellate or regulatory authority that will monitor projects such as metro, waterways, roadways and toll, among other projects,” he said, adding that it should address issues such as delays, cost escalations, encroachments, land acquisitions and even fare hikes.
Decorated using white and purple flowers, the four-coach stainless steel metro rake slowly gained speed as it crossed two stations to reach Azad Nagar. The two-tier Versova station, which is being given finishing touches, too, was decorated for the occasion. Throughout the run, the police personnel and private security guards kept a strict vigil along the route.
This being the first public appearance of the rakes that entered the city almost two years ago, most people present on the top deck of the Versova station, including journalists, were seen clicking pictures using mobile phones.
“The trains, once functional, will help us reach Andheri station within few minutes,” said a local.
The Versova-AndheriGhatkopar corridor, one of the seven metro corridors planned for the city, is likely to be partially opened for public by October. The 11.40 km corridor, which will have 12 stations, is expected to improve east-west connectivity and ease pressure on the public transport.
“Flagging off the official trial run on the occasion of Maharashtra Day is an appropriate tribute to all workers, technicians, officials, engineers, who have worked hard to complete the work on the corridor,” said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.
Guardian minister of Mumbai suburban district Naseem Khan, chief secretary of the state JK Banthia, MMRDA commissioner UPS Madan were among the officials present on the occasion.
“The trials have begun 1,886 days after the work on the project began. Seven deadlines have been missed so far,” said Anil Galgali, an RTI activist.
The commissioner of railway safety had not given permission for the trial run on Wednesday.

NCP targets Prithviraj Chavan on expensive MHADA flats, delayed Mumbai Metro

MHADA flats were now out of bounds for the common man and as the Housing department was with the Chief Minister, he should look into the matter urgently, Ajit said.

Targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, NCP today asked him to direct the state housing body MHADA to lower prices of flats in this year's lottery, and demanded a clear statement on when the under-construction Mono-rail and Metro rail in Mumbai would start operating.
Speaking to reporters here, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the rich can purchase flats at any cost, but government housing schemes were for the poor. "MHADA should ensure that there are affordable houses for the poor and the middle classes," he said.
MHADA flats were now out of bounds for the common man and as the Housing department was with the Chief Minister, he should look into the matter urgently, Ajit said.
NCP spokesperson Nawab malik echoed Ajit in his weekly media briefing later. Malik alleged that MHADA was competing with private builders, which had made buying flats in Mumbai impossible for the common man. The Chief Minister should direct MHADA to lower the rates, he said.
In a dig at the Chief Minister, Malik also said that instead of flagging off safety trial runs of Metro Rail, Chavan should take the MMRDA bureaucrats to task for delaying various projects in Mumbai.
Chavan is the chairman of MMRDA, a planning body, in his capacity as Urban Development Minister.
Projects such as Santacruz-Chembur link road, some works at Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, eastern freeway, MUTP-1 have not been completed for over a decade, he pointed out.
Metro phase one construction started eight years ago but still trial runs were on, Malik said, adding that instead of "just showing trailers", Chief Minister should tell people of Mumbai when Metro will be available.

Mumbai's metro dream closer to reality

After 3km trial, authorities target to run it over two crucial bridges. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday flagged off the trial run of the much-anticipated Mumbai metro which ran for three kilometres between Versova and Azad Nagar. The first phase of the metro, to run between Versova and Airport Road, is expected to be operational by September. The fare will vary from Rs6 to Rs10, depending on the distance.

Following the trial run, the authorities are now working overtime to take the metro across the Andheri railway tracks, which is likely to happen only by month-end. The task of finishing the railing and electrification along the route between Azad Nagar and Airport Road is being carried out on a war footing.

The next target is to run the coaches on two bridges - Andheri railway bridge and the cable stayed across Jog flyover on Western Express Highway at Andheri - to conduct tests for mandatory certifications. It is scheduled to happen by May-end. The trial run for the metro up to Airport Road station will happen in the first week of June.

“We expect the first phase from Versova to Airport Road to start by September and the second phase from Airport Road to Ghatkopar by year-end. It has been a challenging task as the construction of this particular corridor posed questions such as decades-old and unmapped underground utilities, congested areas and never-ending traffic snarls,” Chavan said.

The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro will improve East-West connectivity. Chavan on Wednesday said the cabinet committee will give its nod to metro rails in Pune and Nagpur too. The state has already given an in-principle approval to the Churchgate-Virar elevated corridor.

The Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium, Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, and the MMRDA officials faced many challenges to secure clearances from other government agencies and even to resettle project affected persons along the corridor.

Mumbai Metro trial run successful

MUMBAI: On the occasion of Maharashtra Day, Mumbaikars were treated to a successful trial run of the state's first Metro railway Wednesday.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan flagged off the 3-km long trial run of the Mumbai Metrobetween Versova and Azad Nagar in north Mumbai's Andheri suburb.

The section is a part of the 11.40km Versova-Ghatkopar corridor which will provide a vital east-west link and drastically reduce travel time from the existing 90 minutes to barely 20 minutes.

Chavan said that the Versova-Ghatkopar line will become operational by December.

He said the Metro would be extended to the adjacent Thane district and work on a separate monorail project expedited.

The Mumbai Metro's Versova-Ghatkopar first phase is being constructed at a cost of around Rs 2,356 crore by a Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium on behalf of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

Stations

This is a list of the stations of the planned Mumbai Metro.

Line 1: Versova – Ghatkopar

• Versova
• D N Nagar (Line 2 Interchange)
• Azad Nagar
• Andheri
• WEH
• Chakala
• Airport
• Marol Naka
• Saki Naka
• Asalpha
• Ghatkopar

Line 2: Charkop – Mankhurd

• Charkop
• Malad
• Kasturi Park
• Bangur Nagar
• Oshiwara
• Samartha Nagar
• Shastri Nagar
• D N Nagar (Line 1 Interchange)
• ESIC Nagar
• JVPD
• Juhu
• Vile Parle
• Nanavati Hospital
• Aryasamaj Chowk
• Khar
• Barat Nagar
• National College
• Bandra
• MMRDA
• Income Tax Office
• Cmplx Rd
• Kurla
• Barve Marg
• RC Marg
• Shivaji Chowk
• BSNL
• Mankhurd