The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has sought around Rs 3,400-crore assistance from the Centre for funding the construction of six Metro corridors in the city, of which civil construction on four Metro corridors is currently ongoing.

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The MMRDA has sought Centre's assistance as per provisions in the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, of the Central government that wherein the Central government considers providing a grant of 10 per cent of project cost that excludes private investment, cost of land, rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), along with state government tax to the state government for construction of Metro Rail project.

As per estimations, MMRDA and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), executing the Colaba-Seepz Metro-3 underground corridor, will spend around Rs 1,25,201 crore for construction of 12 Metro corridors, measuring around 276-km in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

However, currently Metro construction is ongoing on four Metro corridors — including Dahisar-DN Nagar Metro-2A corridor, DN Nagar-Mandale Metro-2B corridor, Wadala-Kasarvadavli Metro-4 corridor and Dahisar East- Andheri East Metro-7. The MMRDA has sought the Centre's assitance for these four Metro corridors, coupled with the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro-5 corridor and the Lokhandwala-Vikhroli Metro-6 corridor.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha a couple of weeks ago, said: "The proposal for central grant to the tune of 10 per cent of the total project cost (total project cost Rs 34,016 crore) of Metro lines 2-A, 2-B, 4,5,6 and 7, excluding the cost of R&R, land and state taxes was received. We have sought certain clarifications from MMRDA in this regard. The comments of MMRDA are awaited."

Meanwhile, RA Rajeev, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA said that demand was raised as per policy. While another MMRDA official said: "The demand is of around Rs 3,400 crore in the form of grant from the Central government, followed by which few clarifications were sought, to which we have replied now."

MONEY WOES

  • As per Policy, Centre considers providing a grant of 10% of project cost, excluding pvt investment, cost of land, rehabilitation and resettlement, among others   
  • As per estimations, MMRDA and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation will spend around Rs 1,25,201 cr for construction of 12 Metro corridors   
  • Metro construction is ongoing on four corridors