The bidding process for the Dahisar-Mira Road-Bhayandar (Metro 10) line is likely to commence later this year so as to coincide with Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) elections to be held in August.
If tenders are invited in the next few months, construction can start either by year-end or early 2018 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Presently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is working on the feasibility and detailed project report for Metro 10. The report will likely be submitted in a month or by April-end.
"Once we get DMRC's report, we may approve it in the next authority meeting. Thereafter, it may be presented before the state cabinet for approval," said UPS Madan, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, apart from leading the state, also heads the MMRDA as its Chairman. Of the two assembly constituencies in the Mira-Bhayandar region, one each is with the BJP and the Shiv Sena.
For the residents of MBMC region, daily commute is among the top problems. During rush hour, it is next to impossible to board a suburban local, while travelling by the Western Express Highway doesn't provide much relief.
Earlier in March, MMRDA Commissioner Madan, along with a team of officials, visited the proposed alignment from Dahisar to Bhayander. "The route will run parallel to the Dahisar-Surat Highway and will take a left turn at Kashi Mira to go straight up to Golden Nest Circle. We are looking to have two arms at Golden Nest Circle (Bhayander end) of the metro route," said Madan.
One arm will head to Bhayander (West) to terminate before Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ground. The second arm will take a right turn from Golden Nest Circle to terminate at Indralok. For this, commuters will not have to change a Metro as the authorities plan to ensure both arms are a continuous route.
The total length of the Metro line is likely to be around 9 kms, comprising nine stations. The estimated price of this elevated route will be around Rs 3,600 crore.
Three locations at the Bhayander end of the route have been identified to set up a car depot, but none of the locations have been finalised. There are encroachments too, once land is zeroed in for the car depot.
Commuters will have to change Metro lines at Dahisar and board another train to Mumbai. Transport analysts are of the opinion that given the north-south pattern of travel in Mumbai, there should be a continuous line right from Bhayander to Andheri, as opposed to asking passengers to change trains at Dahisar.
