Mumbai metro trains raring to run, but where are tracks?

Ten swank trains for the metro rail are ready in the yard, waiting to ply. But the work for the city’s dream project, the Mumbai Metro, which is on since 2008 is yet to be completed.

The project’s first phase — Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar — is supposed to be complete in 2013. But, the basic civil engineering work on the 11.4-km stretch between Andheri and Ghatkopar is yet to be completed.

“Only after the civil engineering work on the stretch is complete would it be possible to resume further work of laying tracks and then putting up other basic infrastructure like overhead masts and wires. Only after the work is complete will any trials be possible,” said sources.

The basic elevated route bridge on which tracks need to be laid is yet to be completed near the Ghatkopar stretch.

“The elevated corridor is now in the last stages of construction as a few last girders will be put up this week to complete the route structure,” said an official at the site.

“We have brought in heavy-duty cranes and the equipment at the site for the past few days and work has been going on day and night without affecting traffic,” he added.

Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) officials said they were confident that the work would be complete this year. “The work in Ghatkopar is part of project planning and will be completed as per schedule. It is pertinent to note that it would not affect any of the relevant works referred to in at all. The project will be as per schedule and metro rail will start running in 2013,” said a senior MMOPL official.

Sources said important work such as installation of electrical and telecommunication work and putting up passenger amenities on the 12 Metro stations were in the process of being finished.

Ghatkopar residents continue to suffer because of Metro work which has made the roads narrow with too many barricades. “The Sarvodaya Hospital lane, where the Metro recently took over work, is a big mess with drains flowing in the middle of the street and it being left untarred,” Chirag Madia, a resident.