While Mumbaikars will be able to commute on the first metro rail in the state by coming May, Navi Mumbaikars will have to wait for at least three more years to avail of Belapur-Pendhar metro line service because the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) is bound to miss the 2015 deadline.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on May 1, 2011. Speaking on the occasion, Chavan had asked the authorities to ensure that the line was operational within the next three years — by 2014.u00a0
Work in progress: Labourers doing welding work on the Belapur-Pendhar Metro Corridor. The metro line will miss its 2015 deadline as well. Pic/Sameer Markande
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However, thanks to different issues, the project has missed its deadlines. A CIDCO official said the line would witness its first trial run in July 2016. Once operational, there would be eight trains — three coaches each — that would ply on the Belapur-Pendhar corridor.
The eight trains are expected to ferry 385 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD). u00a0Officials said if there was a considerable rise in number of commuters, then the coaches would be doubled.
Reason for delay
Superintending Engineer (Metro) CIDCO V C Kamble said, “The project has suffered a nine-month delay because the tender quoted by the Delhi Metro Rail Construction (DMRC) was in accordance with coaches that were 2.9-metre-wide.
Labourers doing welding work on the Belapur-Pendhar Metro Corridor. The metro line will miss its 2015 deadline as well. Pic/Sameer Markande
These coaches have lesser carrying capacity. We increased the width to 3.2 metres. So we had to revise the cost. But we are trying our best to finish the work and make the metro line operational for public at the earliest.”
Special sensors
The fully automatic metro train would be equipped with a signalling system with sensors that would eliminate possibilities of head-on collision.
Work done till date
The CIDCO has completed 60 per cent of civil work and 30 per cent of station work till date. It should also be noted that a few international companies have shown keen interest in the mechanical work tenders and have placed their bids, for which the last day of submission was October 30. The CIDCO is expected to finalise one of the bidders by January 2014, following which the firm will be awarded a 30-month contract. The company would then be responsible for completion of trains, including interiors and exteriors, till the time they are pressed into action for public use.u00a0
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