The MMRDA is overhauling roads, rails network across Mumbai and outside it. Syed Ameen Kader takes a stock of some of its ongoing prestigious projects
Home to about 20 million people, Mumbai’s swelling population is seeing an adverse effect on the city’s infrastructure. In a bid to beautify the city, the Maharashtra government had set up a task force to transform Mumbai into a world-class city by 2013.
Several agencies like the Metropolitan Mumbai Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) are now spearheading the process of transforming Mumbai into a world-class city.
Prominent among them is MMRDA – the agency that has taken up a host of development works. Set up in 1975 as an apex body for planning and co-ordination of development activities in Mumbai, the body has under its belt huge development projects.
“Our task of developing the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) not only includes Mumbai but also the rapidly growing hinterland like Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayander, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Bhiwandi-Nizampur. Our vision is clear. We believe in improving living standards,” said MMRDA Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad.
“We will try to attract foreign investments. We are executing projects like 18 corridors, highways, freeways, metro rail network, monorail, train network, skywalks, Sahar Elevated road, MTHL, subways, Nirmay Abhiyan Projects (construction of community toilet blocks with their participation), and housing rental projects.”
With projects worth Rs20,871.64 crore, the body is involved in developing roads, bridges, flyovers, the metro rail, the mono rail and expressways.
So are they affected by the slowdown? “We don’t have a dearth of funds. The World Bank has financed several projects and some have found finance in-house,” he added.
MMRDA’s advantage is its ownership of vast tracts of land.
Here is a snapshot of prominent projects being under taken by MMRDA:
MMRDA projects
- Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)
- Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP)
- Eastern Freeway
- Sahar Elevated Road
- Metro Rail
- Mono Rail
- MTHL Dispersal System
MUMBAI URBAN TRANSPORT PROJECT (MUTP)
The MUTP has under it suburban railway projects, public bus transport, roads, and pedestrian subways. Most of these developments are a bid to improve traffic and transportation in Mumbai with assistance from the World Bank.
Implementing agencies involved are here MMRDA, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), and the BEST.
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MUTP PROJECT COMPONENTS
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Rs. Cr.
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US$ mn
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Railway
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3140
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655
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Road
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884
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185
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R & R*
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480
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100
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Fees
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22
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5
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Total Cost
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4526
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945
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World Bank Loan
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2602
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542
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Counterpart Funds
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1924
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403
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* Resettlement & Rehabilitation
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BORIVALI – VIRAR QUADRUPLING
Cost of Work Rs. 512 Crores
Expenditure Upto Mar’2008 Rs. 478.59 Crores
Executing Agency Western Railway
Physical Progress up to Sept’2008 100%
Target for Completion Complete
Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (Roads) (MUIP)
MUIP’s objectives are strengthening the North-South corridors and East-West connectivity, and developing 17 high speed junctions/signal free road corridors with dedicated bus lanes. The 17 corridors when complete will quicken traffic dispersal and offer uninterrupted connectivity to the international airport.
Proposed schemes under MUIP are road network improvement, flyovers/ elevated roads, tunnel below Juhu airport, road over-bridges, pedestrian grade separators, high capacity bus corridors, light rail transit system, station area traffic improvement and new bus terminals and deports.
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Schemes
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Overall
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Priorty-1
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Works Undertaken
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DP Roads (No)
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134
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83
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18
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DP Roads (in Km)
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462.28
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343.24
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155
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Elevated Roads
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10
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7
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–
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Flyovers
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41
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36
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15
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ROBs
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16
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4
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1
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Vehicular Subways
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10
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10
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6
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Pedestrian Subways
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56
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25
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11
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Estimated cost (Rs. Cr.)
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2647
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1980
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1438
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Eastern Freeway project corridor
The EFW will provide connectivity between the island city, MbPT and the suburbs. Relieving traffic congestion at residential areas of Chembur, Sion, Sewri and Wadala besides enabling MTHL dispersal is its target. The benefits of EFW will be point to point bus services from CST to Navi Mumbai.
Sahar Elevated Road
The Sahar Elevated road is an East-West corridor connecting to the international airport. The Mumbai airport caters to 35% domestic and international air traffic. With air passenger growth expected to grow at 7% by 2010, the Sahar road is the only road link to the airport.
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Cost sharing by various Agencies
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Agency
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Cost Sharing (Rs. Crore)
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Govt. of India
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54.29
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Govt. of
Maharashtra |
23.27
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MMRDA
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77.57
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Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL)
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Over & above 155.13 (i.e. cost approved under JNNURM)
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Sahar elevated road
Total tendered cost: Rs287.37 cr
Present status: Foundation work is in progress and about 98 piles and 7 pile caps completed
Length: 2 kms
Balance work is in progress
Date of completion: 8 Jan 2010
Mumbai metro
The extreme pressure of suburban systems has compelled the authorities to develop a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). The main objective of the Mumbai Metro is to provide a rail-based mass transit connectivity to people within an approach distance of 1-2 km thus serving areas not connected by the existing suburban rail system.
Phase 1
Line 1: 11.07 km
Versova-Andheri- Ghatkopar
No of stations: 12 Elevated
Implementation period: 2007-2010
Line 2: 31.87 km
Charkop-Bandra – Mankhurd
No of stations: 27
Implementation period: 2007-11
Line 3: 19.85 km
Colaba – Bandra
Implementation period: 2007-12
Total Length: 62.79 km.
MONO RAIL SYSTEM
PRESENT STATUS
- Authority accorded in-principle approval to implement the project for 25 km on pilot basis
- RITES has been appointed as a consultant to assist MMRDA in preparation of engineering and feasibility report and bidding process till award of contract
- Global invitation of Expression of Interest (EoI) for potential bidders was advertised on 12th Nov’ 2007 and 7 consortia have submitted
- 2 pre-qualified consortia submitted bids on 15th July 2008
- Project was awarded to L & T and Scomi on 7th Nov’ 2008 at a cost of Rs2460 crores
- PMC was awarded to consortium led by Sowil
- Commencement of work in December 2008
- Implementation Period: Dec 2008- Nov 2010 (first corridor) May 2011 (complete corrider)
Mumbai Trans-Harbour Sea Link Project (Sewree – Nhava Sheva)
The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Sea Link (MTHL) is expected to improve connectivity from Mumbai to the hinterland to promote housing and economic development.
The proposed infrastructure projects such as SEZs, an airport, JNPT, Thane-Vashi Rail link will also benefit from the MTHL dispersal.
The 22km long project with six bridges will have an elevated road from Sewri to Worli and an elevated link from Sewri to South Mumbai. It will also link the Sion-Panvel highway. Expected to cost Rs2,600 crore, work on the project is expected to be complete by July 01, 2013.
Bids submitted by IL&FS-led consortium and Reliance Energy Limited-led consortium were cancelled in June 2008 by the cabinet committee. In July 2008, the cabinet committee decided that MMRDA will fund the project and MSRDC will implement the same. Bids are being prepared to implement the project on cash contract.
