After two unsuccessful bids spanning over two years, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) on Wednesday finally awarded the contract of constructing the second line of metro to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure.
The 32-km route from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra will be built at a combined cost of Rs8,250 crore, and will be completed in five years after construction begins later this year. However, there is bad news for the residents’ associations, which wanted a part of the route to go underground, as the authority has decided it will be totally elevated.
The consortium of Reliance Infrastructure, along with a Canadian company SNC Lovalin and Reliance Communication Ltd, will spend Rs5,952 crore to fulfill their commitment in the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) project. The central government has already committed to pay the viability gap of Rs1,532 crore, while MMRDA will contribute the balance Rs766 crore.
MMRDA had suffered major setbacks last year as well as this year when it received no response to the bidding process. The consortium finally made a bid in May when it quoted a viability gap of Rs2,298 crore. According to senior MMRDA officials, the actual construction should begin post monsoon. “It will take about a month to complete the formalities and issue the letter of intent. Work should begin after the monsoon,” a senior MMRDA official told DNA.
When asked about the demand of a partially underground metro (between Andheri to Bandra) made by citizens groups from Andheri, Juhu, Linking Road and Bandra, chief secretary Johny Joseph told DNA that the second line will go ahead as per the original designs prepared by MMRDA. “The executive committee has formally approved the bid submitted by Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium. The bid was as per the design specifications,” said Joseph. The 32-km-long route will have 27 stations.
This has not gone down well with the associations, which are now mulling the future course of action. Sherley Singh of Juhu Metro Rail Forum, said, “We will strategise and take a call in two days whether or not to move court.” Aftab Siddique from Linking Road Metro Rail Forum appeared hopeful when he said, “The original plan of MMRDA brings the metro underground from Mithibai, and comes out at Kurla. Whether they are going according to that plan has to be found out.”
