RailEnquiry

MUMBAI: The Metro rail work that has been chugging along seems to have picked up pace with around 70% of the crucial bridge over Western Railway tracks near Andheri station completed. "The visibility of the bridge now gives us confidence in deciding the actual deadline," senior officials of MMRDA and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) said.This is the first phase that will run on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar 12-km route with 12 stations. Estimated at Rs 2,640 crore, the original deadline was this year-end but in all probability the deadline will be extended and the line is expected to be operational by the beginning of next year.The bridge's completion is considered crucial in laying tracks and bringing rakes on to them to enable trial runs. It was lagging due to delay in getting approval from railways and traffic constraints because of 22-hour non-stop rail movement.The 183-metre-long bridge with three spans is a complete steel structure and is a look-alike of Howrah bridge. After construction of pillars alongside the railway tracks, huge steel spans are now being put on the pillars with the help of special cranes.Of the three spans of 61 metre each, two have been completed and work on the third has already begun. "With this, we can say that 70% of work of the railway bridge is complete," officials said.