Award of civil contracts kickstarts Mumbai's Metro Line-3

The proposed Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Mumbai Metro Line-3 took a big leap with Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd awarding civil contracts worth over Rs 18,000 crore for the 33.5-km section, an official said here on Tuesday.

The civil works, to be implemented in seven packages, attracted bids from major Indian and international companies, for the project being implemented by MMRCL with loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Mumbai Metro Line-3 will be a fully underground corridor with 27 stations, including 26 underground and one at grade, or overground, to be constructed by the five contractors.

Their selection was done as per JICA procurement guidelines through international competitive bidding with JICA scrutinizing the processes at all stages.

The Mumbai Metro Line-3 would provide a crucial north-south corridor connecting major central business districts of south Mumbai in Nariman Point with BKC, domestic and international airports, and industrial hubs of MIDC and SEEPZ.

It will also provide rail connectivity for the first time to various parts of the city and suburbs like Kalbadevi, Worli and Prabhadevi.

The line will provide convenient interchanges with Western Railway at Churchgate, Mumbai Central and Mahalaxmi with Central Railway at CST, the Monorail at Mahalaxmi and Metro Line 1 at Marol Naka, besides connecting to the upcoming Line 2.

An estimated 1.40 million commuters are expected to use the line in 2021 when commercial operations are due to start and increase to 1.70 million in a decade.

The Metro Line 3 will operate services at 2.5 minutes headway with a modern rolling stock, platform screen doors, automatic fare collection system and integrated ticketing with other modes, or a Single Card.

Besides a huge reduction in air and noise pollution, the Metro Line 3 will reduce traffic congestion with 456,771 less vehicle trips per day, save 243,390 litres fuel per day with total savings of Rs 15.81 crore daily.

The selected contractors are: Package 1 -- L&T-STEC joint venture for stations Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate and Hutatma Chowk, at Rs 2,988.53 crore.

Package 2 -- HCC-MMS JV, for stations CST, Metro, Kalbadevi, Girgaum and Grant Road, at Rs 2,521.89 crore.

Package 3 -- DOGUS-SOMA, for Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi Metro, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk and Worli, at Rs 2,557.84 crore.

Package 4 -- CEC-ITD CEM-TPL JV, for Siddhivinayak, Dadar Metro and Shitladevi, at Rs 2,830.1 crore.

Package 5 -- J. Kumar-CRTG, for Dharavi, BKC Metro, Vidyanagari and Santacruz, at Rs 2,817.02 crore.

Package 6 -- J. Kumar-CRTG, for CSI Airport, Sahar Road, and CSA International, at Rs 2,118.40 crore.

Package 7 -- L&T-STEC JV, for Marol Naka, MIDC, SEEPZ stations, at Rs 2,281.45 crore.

--IANS

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