City’s Metro 7 told to follow Jaipur, Kochi model

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), consultant for Metro projects in the state, has recommended that Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) hand over the Andheri east-Dahisar east Metro 7 project to an agency with experience to plan, implement and operate on a turnkey basis. The same was done in Jaipur and Kochi by respective state governments so as to complete the projects in about three-and-a-half years.

“Turnkey” is when you pay the fees and the consultancy researches the particular project and delivers it to you after completion.

Deputy metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, Dilip Kawathkar, said, “Instead of Metro line 7, DMRC has been granted permission to execute Metro line 2 on a turnkey basis and MMRDA has executed an agreement with DMRC as interim consultant to work on Metro 7.”

A detailed project report (DPR) submitted by DMRC to MMRDA says that MMRDA should consider handing over the project to an experienced agency with expertise in the field and which can deliver the project on time.

In October this year, the executive committee of MMRDA granted administrative approval for appointment of DMRC to implement the 18.5-km-long Dahisar-D.N. Nagar Metro 2 corridor.

It also approved DMRC’s appointment as interim consultant for the 16.5-km-long Dahisar east-Andheri east Metro 7 corridor. However, the report also recommended that if turnkey basis is not implemented for Metro 7, the project runs a risk of getting delayed by eight to nine months.

The DPR further states that the proposal of this corridor is technically feasible but involves acquisition of land as well as rehabilitation of some hutments and shops.

This is a socio-economic problem and has to be tackled for execution of the project.It was earlier reported by The Asian Age that though MMRDA has set 2019 as deadline for the Andheri east-Dahisar east Metro line, MMRDA officials said considering the flow of traffic and the number of slum dwellers, it could miss the deadline.

However, MMRDA has claimed that it is studying issues pertaining to slum dwellers and will come out with a plan before starting work on the same. The DPR also suggests that the Metro 7 line be extended to Terminal-2 (T2) and the international airport complex for which the MMRDA is conducting a study.