25 March,2011 06:37 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Call MMRDA's plan to extend Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro rail line until Mankhurd a waste of public money
Do you think the plan of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to extend the Versova-Andher-Ghatkopar (11.07 km) corridor of the Mumbai Metro rail network all the way until Mankhurd is a sound idea?
But before answering the question, take into view that a) the extended project would involve an outlay of over
Transport experts say a firm no, calling the lengthening of the rail route up till Mankhurd unnecessarily extravagant
Rs 1,000 crore, and b) the plan for the second Metro line lays down that it will run between Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd.
Transport experts say a firm no, calling the lengthening of the rail route up till Mankhurd unnecessarily extravagant.
Speaking to MiD DAY, independent architect Nitin Killawala who filed a case in the Bombay High Court last year against the Metro project, said, "In order to extend the route from Ghatkopar to Mankhurd, MMRDA will have to construct seven km more. And its cost will not be less than Rs 1,000 crore, which is nothing but a waste of public money."
MMRDA has already been facing criticism for the slow pace of work on the VAG corridor because of which it has already extended the date of completion twice before, in November and December last year.
Moreover, the MMRDA is yet to start the work on the 32-km long second Metro line, between Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd.
Expert speaks
Transport expert and a member of citizen transport committee, Jitendra Gupta, said, "The plan to augment the line till Mankhurd is better for east-west connectivity. But that is only if MMRDA invites fresh bids for the extension.
Otherwise it will appear as if the body is favouring Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is already constructing Line I (VAG) and Line II (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd)."
Justifying his stand that extension of the line is not as simple as it appears, Killawala said, "If an elevated Metro line is extended from Ghatkopar, it will have to pass over the Eastern Express Highway, high tension electricity wires near Deonar and the slum pocket there, and finally the Sion-Panvel Highway, which is a complicated job.
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So when the second line is already going to go towards Mankhurd, there is little merit in expanding the first line till the same destination."
In the way of intricacies, he cited the most prominent one: building the line above the Deonar shanties, in the way of the proposed extended line, would require resettlement of slum dwellers.
Vijay Waghela (28), a resident of Bharat Nagar in Mankhurd, said, "It is good that MMRDA is planning to extend the metro line. But unless the issue of resettlement of people staying in the slums is resolved, there will be strong opposition to the project. Already, private builders have started approaching us with lucrative offers."
MMRDA reasons
The consulting company appointed by MMRDA is expected to submit a detailed project report (DPR) by May. According to the plan, the 7 km Ghatkopar-Mankhurd extension will connect Metro lines I and II.
The proposed alignment for the corridor is from Ghatkopar station (east) near the rail over-bridge, extending further to Chembur-Mankhurd Link Road at Chedda Nagar junction near Eastern Express Highway, and will end at Mankhurd station to integrate with the suburban Harbour line and Metro line II.
However, Killawala feels that the area near Ghatkopar railway station is so crowded that the task is next to impossible. "The only way MMRDA can go ahead is by going underground.
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Otherwise there will be opposition to the project. Another important fact is that the number of people travelling towards Mankhurd is less. So taking two lines towards Mankhurd is not a good idea."
Rs 2,356 cr
The total cost of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro Line 1
Second leg limp?
Earlier, MiD DAY had reported about how Metro Man E Sreedharan had clearly said that Metro Line II, the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd corridor, should have been divided into two lines as per the original plan to make it more viable for commuters. ('Second leg of Metro flawed: Sreedharan', December 1, 2010)
THE second leg of the ambitious Metro project, the 32-km long Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd corridor is doomed in more ways than one, according to Sreedharan.
In a letter (a copy of which is with MiD DAY) to the Maharashtra Government and the MMRDA, Sreedharan states that the original plan of two separate lines Line II from Charkop to Colaba and Line III from Bandra to Mankhurd was more viable than the present Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd corridor.
He reasons that the Charkop-Colaba line would provide easy access to the thousands who travel to south Mumbai everyday.
The original plan was made when officials from MMRDA, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Maharashtra Chief Secretary met in the capital in 2008.
However, Sreedharan claims in the letter that the MMRDA took a U-turn and decided to build line II as Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd instead.
The Other Side
Justifying its expansion plan, MMRDA joint project director Dilip Kawatkar said, "This Metro line will improve connectivity between the northern and eastern region of Mumbai. Besides, the new rail will enable east-west connectivity from Versova to Mankhurd, saving commutation time and so calling it a waste of public money is not right."
