Andheri Metro station widening on hold

More than one year after operator of Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro-1 proposed widening Andheri Metro station, nearly 90,000 commuters who daily enter via Andheri Metro station are yet to avail the benefits of the same. Considering future requirements, Metro operators have proposed to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) a plan to instal steel platforms and platform screen doors (PSD) to widen the station.

The 12-km-long Metro line witnesses nearly 4 lakh riders daily during weekdays, and has seen a significant increase of crowd at busy stations like Andheri and Ghatkopar in the four years since operations started.

The operator — Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) — had proposed the Rs 9-crore plan to MMRDA that holds around 26 per cent stakes of Metro-1 in October 2017. However, things are yet to take shape. Andheri Metro station's Ghatkopar-bound platform is very narrow, and MMOPL had in October 2017 proposed installing PSD as well as steel platform to increasing the width.

PSDs help in better crowd management and also help in preventing suicides as the doors are in sync with Metro doors; it opens only after a Metro train stops at the platform and shuts subsequently. Also, such facility is vital considering the ridership of Mumbai Metro has seen a steady increase from 2.50 lakh to around 4 lakh commuters, thus making crowd management difficult.

Viraj Mamania, who takes the Metro often, said, "I feel that crowd at busy stations like Andheri and Ghatkopar has increased, and that it requires to be addressed via crowd management and upgrading infrastructure. However, when it comes to other Metro stations except Andheri and Ghatkopar, I do not feel the urgency over crowding."

MMOPL, when contacted, issued a statement giving updates about the proposal on Friday, but subsequently withdrew the statement on Saturday without giving any reason. MMOPL also asked to not publish the given update.

The Reliance Infrastructure-led MMOPL, that operates the Metro-1 corridor since its inception in 2014, has proposed this idea to MMRDA that owns 26 per cent stakes in Metro-1 corridor. The two have been at loggerheads over the construction cost of Metro-1 that is currently under arbitration.

Asked about the same, an MMRDA official said, "We have got request from MMOPL for infrastructural changes, but we are not keen on parting money over the same considering the revenue beneficiary out of Metro-1 is the operator. However, ideally according to the concession agreement, MMRDA has to reimburse for the same."

MMOPL, MMRDA AT LOGGERHEADS STILL

• Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, which is the operator of Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro, had proposed a Rs 9-crore plan to MMRDA that holds around 26 per cent stakes of Metro-1 in October 2017.
   
• MMRDA officials said they got the proposal, but are not keen on giving money to the operator. The two have been at loggerheads over the construction cost of Metro-1 that is currently under arbitration.