Mumbai: Metro Line 10 tender process to begin by Dec 15, says Pratap Sarnaik

The GaimukhndashShivaji Chowk MiraBhayandar Metro Line 10 project has gained significant momentum with the tender process set to begin by December 15 Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on TuesdayHe was speaking during a review meeting at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA headquarters attended by Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Ashwin Kumar Mudgal Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao MiraBhayandar Municipal Commissioner Radha Binod Sharma and other senior officialsThe fully elevated 9718km corridor costing an estimated Rs 8000 crore will include five stations Gaimukh Reti Bandar Chena Village Varsava Village Kashimira and Miragaon The route has been designated as the green line and is projected to handle a daily ridership of 466 lakh passengers by 2031A depot for the line has been proposed at Mogra Pada ML4 Depot The corridor will offer interchange connectivity with Metro Line 4A at Gaimukh and Metro Line 9 at Miragaon enhancing travel efficiency for commuters heading towards Thane and MumbaiSystrandashDB JV has been appointed as the general consultant for the project Officials said that work on obtaining mandatory clearances mdash including forest Coastal Regulation Zone CRZ mangrove wildlife conservation and ecosensitive zone approvals mdash is currently underway The general consultant has already prepared tender documents for both the metro construction and an accompanying 60metrewide roadMinister Sarnaik said he was confident that the Metro Line 10 project will significantly improve connectivity for the MiraBhayandar region enabling faster modern and environmentally friendly travel once completed by 2030Bhoomi pujan for pod taxi project in 6 months says Maharashtra Minister Pratap SarnaikEarlier Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced that the pod taxi service will link Thane MiraBhayandar and Navi Mumbai and the Bhoomi pujan groundbreaking ceremony for project will be held within 6 months reported the PTIPod taxis form part of a Personal Rapid Transit PRT system in which fully automated driverless electric vehicles run on elevated tracks carrying small groups of passengersSpeaking at an event marking the death anniversary of Thanersquos first mayor Satishchandra Pradhan Sarnaik stated that preparations were progressing and the ceremony would take place soonThe first pod taxi corridor is planned to link Thane MiraBhayandar and Navi Mumbai creating a modern rapidtransit link across the regionChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier stated that the pod taxi system would help provide lastmile connectivity and ease the burden on existing transport networksIn September this year CM Fadnavis had announced that pod taxi services will soon be introduced to reduce the burden on the citys existing public transport infrastructure news agency PTI reportedDuring a highlevel meeting on the project earlier CM Fadnavis had highlighted that the service would play a vital role in easing congestion in the BandraKurla Complex BKC corridor which is expected to witness a sharp rise in commuter traffic with the development of a bullet train terminal and the upcoming new Bombay High Court building in the vicinityWith inputs from PTI