Title - Mumbai’s first metro may chug in March 2013

In what could be good news for a public transport dependent city, Mumbaikars may get their first Metro railway line in March 2013.However, this will be a year late than its original deadline. The 11.40kilometre Versova- Andheri- Ghatkopar Metro elevated line will be the first in Mumbai and will have 12 stations.“Civil work will be completed by October- November,” said the MMRDA official adding that a significant amount of the civil work was complete. He said that the test runs were likely to be held this year though no schedules had been decided. Sources said that all 16 trains to be used on the route would arrive by December. “Our field work will be completed by the end of this year,” said MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawathkar when asked about the likely commissioning schedules.A senior MMRDA official pointed out that as per the original schedule the work of Rs2,356 crore Versova- Andheri- Ghatkopar Metro railway linewas to be completed in 2012. He however admitted that the MMRDA had handed over land for the depot, which was a “critical” component only in 2008. The foundation stone for the project was laid in June 2006.Another MMRDA official too admitted to time overruns in the project and confirmed that they would try and commission it by March 2013.