Almost two years after scrapping the plans to have monorail corridor between Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is exploring the option to construct a Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) (light metro) in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
A study to estimate the travel demand conducted by Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) and an Italian firm on behalf of MMRDA has suggested the introduction of LRTS or light metro between Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan.
“The study stated that MMR could have a light metro to enable seamless connectivity between Mumbai and MMR. A light metro is something between a monorail and metro. It is an urban rail set-up with light passenger capacity when compared to a monorail or metro. It is a part of the comprehensive transportation study conducted by the MMRDA in 2008 and the same is being updated currently,” said Sanjay Sethi, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
The previous Congress-NCP government had scrapped the plans to have monorail in the MMR citing the studies conducted in 2014 revealing that the monorail corridor is not likely to be economically viable and had anticipated low ridership.
Similar project of a light metro was mooted in 2014 for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode by Kerala government instead of a monorail, citing it being cheaper than a monorail project.
“Now, following the recommendation in the study conducted we plan to prepare a detailed project report for the same,” added Mr Sethi.
“There are chances that Thane could be an interchange metro station for the proposed Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavali Metro-4 corridor and the light metro corridor among Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan. However, the light metro project will take time as the state government is keen on MMRDA completing projects which are underway and are on hold,” said a MMRDA official.
Interestingly, while on one hand, the MMRDA has also proposed to develop logistics growth centres in Kalyan and Bhiwandi region, on the other hand the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has proposed to develop an elevated road between Bhiwandi and Kalyan.
