RailEnquiry

In a clear indication that the second metro line of Charkop–Bandra – Mankhurd will not take off in the near future, the plot allotted for it has been marked for the third line of Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ. An Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) official, requesting anonymity, said, “The plot at Charkop owned by Central Public Works Department was to be used for the second metro line, but now we plan to mark it for use as a casting yard for the underground metro rail.”

The 27-acre plot was to be the casting yard for Charkop–Bandra–Mankhurd line. The MMRDA also plans to start construction of the first underground metro from both the ends of the 32km corridor, simultaneously, thereby saving construction time. “The work will commence at Colaba, Charkop, Aarey (for car depot) and SEEPZ,” said the official.Learning from the experience of the first metro corridor (Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar), officials want more casting yards. For the first route, only one casting yard at Wadala was allotted. Now plans are afoot to have at least four to five of them so that pre-cast segments can be transported to stations along the 32km long route. In June, the development authority received the approval of the union cabinet on the funding of the Rs24,500 crore project. Thereafter, it started

working towards calling for bids. Work on the project is scheduled to begin from early 2014 and will be completed only by March 2019.