Mumbai Metro Corp calls for consultants for third line

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has called for consultants for the proposed 32.5-km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro line-III.

The company has invited expression of interest for consultants for the Rs 23,136-crore project, including integrated testing and commissioning of the corridor. "The consultant will conduct a detailed study of the project, which will also include environmental issues. We will then submit the report to the state government," MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawathkar told PTI.

The Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro-II corridor, a fully-elevated 32-km stretch, is stuck due to pending environment clearance for a car depot planned to take care of maintenance works.

The state government is understood to be also looking at alternative sites for the depot, which might change the alignment of the line completely and could lead to re-bidding of the project.

MMRC has been pledged a loan from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) towards the cost of the third line, and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan, which is around Rs 500 crore, for procurement of consultancy services, Kawathkar said. The procedure for appointing consultant is expected to be completed by October, he said. The Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro line-III connects Colaba in south Mumbai to Seepz in the north. The total length of the fully underground corridor is 32.5 km, with 27 stations.o