Mumbai Metro services to be extended till Thane: Chavan

He added a metro service within Thane city was not economically feasible

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said the Mumbai Metro would be extended till Thane and the final project report would be available with the government in a month's time.

Replying to a discussion on the calling attention notice for the proposed Thane Metro project at the legislative assembly, Chavan said a metro service within Thane city was not economically feasible.

Considering the prospects of development in Thane city and in Ghodbunder road area, he said earlier the government had proposed a metro service in the Thane city- Teen Haat Naka- Kaapurbavdi- Ghodbunder road sector and had hired firm Consulting Engineering Services (CES) to prepare a project report including its economical feasibility.

However, the report said the project is not economically feasible, since majority of people in Thane city and nearby areas travel to Mumbai for work every day, Chavan said.

According to him, a new proposal of Wadala-Ghatkopar-Teen Haat Naka (Thane) is being examined by the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA).

A detailed project report by consultant Rail India Technical and Economic Service (Rites) is being prepared. According to the preliminary report, the proposed metro line, linking Mumbai to Thane will cost Rs 22,000 crore and will be of 32 km and have 29 stations. The detailed report is expected in a one's month, Chavan added.

The board of directors of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation also feels that considering the potential of growth and development along the Eastern Express highway and the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) marg, the new metro service can be elevated as well as underground. The option is being studied by the consultants, he told the house.