Saki Naka bottleneck for Metro team

Ashley D'Mello, TNN Sep 10, 2007, 04.37am IST

MUMBAI: Yet another infrastructure project could be running into trouble. The management of
Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the company building a 12-km metro line from
Versova to Ghatkopar, has warned that the Rs 2,356-crore project could be delayed unless the
government helped them acquire land for a train depot and cleared the way for construction along the
corridor.
Director of MMOPL, Krishna Maheshwari, told TOI that the train depot land measuring 32 acres at D
N Nagar was still to be acquired and parts of the proposed corridor near Andheri station and at Saki
Naka and Asalpha were still not clear of encroachments. "We are ready to start within a month's time,
but need the land and the clear corridor," he said.
MMOPL is undertaking the construction of the first line of the metro and has been granted five years
beginning May 2007 by the state to complete the project. The crucial job of clearing encroachments
and providing other logistical support is with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA).
MMOPL is the first public-private partnership initiative for a metro project in India. It is a firm
formed by Reliance Energy Ltd, Veolia Transport, France and the MMRDA.
Maheshwari said, "Studies and surveys for the VAG (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) corridor have
already been completed in the first half of this year. The tender documents for major supplies and
contracts for civil works and rolling stocks have been submitted by shortlisted bidders.
Tenders for the other components like signaling and power supply are expected in a month's time. We
need to have the land for the depot and casting yard at D N Nagar. Since we want to move at a fast
pace, we are having two casting yards for the construction work one at Wadala and the other at D N
Nagar."
MMRDA joint project director, Dilip Kawathkar admitted that there had been problems in getting the
corridor cleared but said the acquisition proceedings for the land at D N Nagar were under way and
would be completed shortly. "The VAG corridor from Versova to Andheri is clear, we are tackling the
problems at Saki Naka and Asalpha,'' he said.
The MMRDA especially faced problems when trying to acquire land near Andheri station: it faced a
barrage of protests from residents and shopkeepers who wanted alternate accommodation nearby.
The BJP had joined the protest stating that the government was acquiring land in a high-handed
manner without a proper alternate housing plan.
After meetings with project-affected groups, the MMRDA undertook to house them in a large
shopping complex near Andheri station. Now, they will have to try some strong persuasion at Saki
Naka and Asalpha too.

Mumbai Metro rig crushes man in auto

TNN May 15, 2008, 03.21am IST

MUMBAI: A 60-tonne piling rig which was being used in the ambitious Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar
elevated corridor project of Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) toppled over at Andheri (W) on
Wednesday, killing one person and injuring another. The rig crashed into the compound wall of A H
Wadia High School on J P Road. A passing autorickshaw was also crushed and a hydraulic crane had
to be summoned to extract the debris.
Andheri resident Vijay Kumar (50) was travelling in the auto and was killed when the rig smashed into
the vehicle's passenger seat. Police officials said his body was mangled beyond recognition. The auto
driver, Vinod Singh, sustained injuries to his chest and mouth.
Only moments before the mishap occurred at 10.30 am, a double-decker bus filled with passengers
had gone by. The school compound, where the rig crashed, was also empty since it's vacation time.
MMOPL has contracted Simplex for the project. "In my entire career, I have never witnessed a mishap
of this nature," said deputy manager of Simplex A Murlikrishnan. "It could either be due to poor
compaction (soil suffering from excessive water run-off due to power aeration) or to a fault in the
machine's working. These are complicated machines."

First metro line hits a roadblock in Andheri

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Aug 29, 2008, 06.09am IST

MUMBAI: Work on the city's first Metro rail corridor between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri
has once again hit a hurdle. Work on the project began in January after a delay of two years.
This time around, the Western Railway (WR) has asked the Reliance Energy-led implementing
agency, the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), to wait for a final clearance for the proposed
line that is to be constructed above existing WR tracks near Andheri station. WR has stated that it will
decide on the MMOPL proposal only after receiving the feasibility report on its proposed elevated
corridor between Churchgate and Virar.

C P Sharma, WR DRM, said, "The feasibility study for the elevated corridor project will take about six
months (to be completed ). The process of appointing the consultancy is underway.'' According to
Sharma, the laying of the Metro rail track above the existing WR tracks could hamper the proposed
elevated track. "Hence, it is better to wait,'' he said.
Interestingly, the WR had earlier given an in-principal nod to this metro corridor, which is nearly onekm long and falls between SV Road on the western-end of the Andheri station and the Agarkar Chowk
towards the eastern end of the Andheri station.
Senior Reliance Energy officials said the general agreement drawings of the Metro have been with the
WR for the last 10 months. "They are asking us to either go underground or seven metres above their
proposed elevated track (that is, nearly 14 metres above the ground). Changing drawings and
alignments at this stage may delay the project by a year,'' source said.
Meanwhile, MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad was confident that the row will be resolved
amicably. "The WR had in-principal given its nod to the project.''

Mumbai Metro raises Rs 1,200 cr loan for the project

TNN Oct 6, 2008, 02.06am IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a joint venture between Reliance
Infrastructure of Reliance ADA Group, France's Veolia Transport and the Mumbai Metropolitan
Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), on Saturday signed the agreement to raise a Rs 1,194
crore loan. Work on first phase of the project is already underway.
According to a statement issued by the MMOPL, the amount has been raised from a group of banks
led by IDBI, Corporation Bank, Karur Vyasa bank, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and Oriental Bank of
Commerce.

The Rs 2,356 crore project will have debt component of Rs 1,194 crore. The MMRDA will provide a
capital grant of Rs 650 crore.
Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created to
implement the Versova Andheri - Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro corridor in Mumbai.

Mumbai Metro raises Rs 1,200cr loan for project

TNN Oct 6, 2008, 05.54am IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a joint venture between Reliance
Infrastructure of Reliance ADA Group, France's Veolia Transport and the MMRDA, on Saturday
signed an agreement to raise a loan of Rs 1,194 crore. Work on the first phase of the project is already
underway.
According to a statement issued by the MMOPL, the amount would be raised from a group of banks
led by IDBI, Corporation Bank, Karur Vyasa Bank, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and Oriental Bank of
Commerce.

The Rs 2,356 crore project will have debt component of Rs 1,194 crore. The MMRDA will provide a
capital grant of Rs 650 crore.
MMOPL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created to implement the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar
(VAG) Metro corridor in Mumbai.

Build Metro with care: Govt

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Oct 21, 2008, 12.09am IST

MUMBAI: The Delhi Metro accident on Sunday has come as a wake-up call for the state government.
The state government's infrastructure agencies have dusted their safety manuals and alerted its
engineers and contractors working on the various projects to take utmost care.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is in the process of implementing
the first metro rail corridor between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri in collaboration with
Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL). MMRDA and Maharashtra State
Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) are also constructing flyovers across the city.

"Taking into account the recent mishaps of bridge collapse in Hyderabad, Lucknow and now Delhi, we
have asked our contractors to strictly go by the safety manual. We are constantly monitoring the
construction activities on a regular basis, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of the
structures,'' said MSRDC chief engineer Subhash Nage. The recently-constructed flyover at Santa Cruz
airport junction has developed potholes on its ramps.
MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar said the safety measures, like for metro rail construction, had
already been prescribed in the draft agreements with the contractors and regular monitoring of the
safety measures was being done by their engineers. MMOPL director K P Maheshwari said that for the
three bridges to be built under the metro rail project on Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, a
special hazard analysis has been done to identify major and minor threats during construction.
Maheshwari said that after the crane collapse on J P Road a few months ago that claimed the life of a
commuter and the recent Delhi incident, the MMOPL had become more proactive. "Our safety
arrangements and construction sequencing have already been rated by third-party experts who have
specific expertise in the construction of such massive bridges in the urban atmosphere. I can assure
Mumbaikars now that not even a single screw will fall on them,'' Maheshwari said.
The work on Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro rail by the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One
Private Limited (MMOPL) had claimed its first victim in Andheri after a 60-tonne crane with a piling
rig toppled when the soil beneath it couldn't sustain the pressure, killing an autorickshaw passenger
on the spot. The incident had taken place in front of A H Wadia School on J P Road in which the
driver of the autorickshaw was severely injured.

WR gives green signal to Andheri metro overbridge

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Dec 23, 2008, 03.47am IST

MUMBAI: The tracks are now clear for work on the city's first metro rail to roll full throttle. The
deadlock between the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), promoters of the
city's first metro rail, and Western Railways (WR), over building a bridge and a metro station above
the tracks at Andheri station, was resolved on Monday.
WR authorities have now asked MMOPL to reduce the proposed height of its metro rail bridge and
station from 14 meters to 9 meters and build a steel bridge instead of a concrete structure. Work on
the Rs 2365-crore Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro project started nearly two years ago after a
bhoomipujan by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but received a big jolt when WR rejected
MMOPL's proposal to construct a station and rail bridge above the tracks at Andheri station. WR had
said the Railways itself was planning an elevated rail project between Mumbai Central and Virar. It
had asked MMOPL to wait till the feasibility report on its proposed elevated corridor between Mumbai
Central-Virar was completed.

Its refusal to clear the general agreement drawings of metro rail for over 11 months had stalled
construction on the nearly one-km stretch between SV road on the western end of Andheri station and
Agarkar Chowk on the eastern side.
"We recently arrived at a solution. As per WR directives we have brought down the height of the
bridge and the station and put up fresh diagrams for approval. They have assured it will be cleared
shortly," the MMOPL spokesman said, pointing out that WR's elevated rail will now go above the
metro bridge. Confirming the development, WR spokesman Shyam Gupta said MMOPL was asked to
implement some technical modifications to facilitate development of an elevated track by WR.
While Reliance Energy owns 74 per cent euity in MMOPL, the government's stake stands at 26 per
cent.

Metro's dozen may miss deadline

Clara Lewis, TNN Dec 24, 2008, 12.46am IST

MUMBAI: Work on the city's showpiece-the Rs 2,646-crore Versova-Ghatkopar metro rail project-is
running behind schedule. Behind the delay is the labyrinth of utilities running underground,
obtaining police permissions to block large sections of busy arterial roads, deferred decisions and late
payments.
The project is being executed by the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL)--a joint venture
between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Reliance
Infrastructure, the latter being the majority share-holder.

Work on the 12 metro stations started in April this year but so far only the first metro station near
Ghatkopar railway station on the Hirachand Desai Road has reached the ground floor level. The
viaduct across the 11.4 km route is also moving at a very slow pace.
Work on the Asalpha station is also underway but at the other 10 stations there has been little
progress. "All 12 stations are to be completed in 22 months (February 2010). Normally it takes only
three to four months for the civil work but it is already nine months and work at most places is yet to
take off,'' contractors working on the project said on condition of anonymity.
Since the stations are being constructed on arterial roads, they require nearly 400 feet, or
approximately 0.13 km of a road, to be blocked. "Traffic permission is required to block the road and
only then can we dig to lay the foundations. But while digging we come across utilities and shifting
them is a mammoth task,'' contractors pointed out. The utilities are virtually a city underground,
nearly 18 of them running either parallel or criss-cross across the carriageway. "Shifting utilities
requires co-ordinating with nearly 18 agencies. We have now informed MMOPL to clear the frontage
and only then shall we undertake the construction work,'' they said.
K P Maheshwari, managing director, MMOPL, admitted there were difficulties but said the work was
far ahead of schedule. "We have five years to complete the project but are going to finish it by July
2010. Besides Ghatkopar, the foundation work has been completed at Chakala, Airport Road and Saki
Naka,'' he said. But a senior MMRDA official said the work was delayed: "We are holding a meeting
with traffic officials on Wednesday to sort out the permission issue."
Besides, there are payment issues as well. Last week, workers at the Ghatkopar site struck work as
they had not been paid for two months. Following the strike, MMOPL released money to the
contractor. Maheshwari, however, denied any delay on MMOPL's part. "We have awarded the contract
of constructing the metro stations to SEW Construction which has sub-contracted it. The dispute is
between the contractor and the sub-contractor,'' he said. But MMRDA sources said metropolitan
commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad raised the payment issue at a recent board meeting and directed
MMOPL to ensure there were no problems.
Sources also alleged the project was being held up by indecisiveness in both, clearing purchase of raw
materials and design of the stations. MMRDA officials said a 20-member design team had been kept
ready as foundation plans needed to be changed repeatedly due to underground utilities. "At times
utility firms are unable to locate missing links,'' said an official.

Shops fear losing business

Clara Lewis, TNN Dec 24, 2008, 12.46am IST

MUMBAI: For the last four months, Rafiqullah Khan, owner of Ashian footwear has seen business
reduce to a trickle. Though located bang opposite the Ghatkopar West railway station, six-and-a-half
feet high barricades hide his shop completely from view.
Problems for Khan and 100-odd shopkeepers in the area began nearly nine months ago when the
barricades went up for the construction of the first metro railway station on the busy Hirachand Desai
road.

"When the BMC concretised the road a few years ago we were very happy as it had vastly improved
our business prospects but ever since work on the metro rail began business has been down by 80 per
cent,'' said Kannan Chandran, owner of Hotel Vasanth.
Moreover, the fear road is that once the metro is commissioned they will all be out of business. "We
have heard that they will allow commercial establishments in metro stations. Who will then come to
our shops?'' Chandran lamented.
But K P Maheshwari, managing director, MMOPL, said they had deputed an officer to hear the
shopkeepers' grievances.
"We expect nearly 25,000 passengers per hour will use the metro rail from the Ghatkopar end so there
is no question of allowing shops. Only 1,000 sq feet has been allowed for passenger conveniences such
as snacks, bookshops and newspaper vendors. No one will lose their livelihood,'' he said.
However shopkeepers alleged they had made several attempts to contact both the MMRDA and the
MMOPL but there had been no response. Last week they were informed that an official would meet
them to listen to their grievances but no one turned up.
"We are not against the metro rail. We understand it is in the interest of the city but what we cannot
understand is why we were not taken into confidence before the work started. No one is telling us
what will happen to us once the metro station comes up,'' said Khan who is now finding it difficult to
make ends meet.
The 60-feet wide road has been completely taken up for the construction of the metro rail station
which will be 400 feet x 60 feet and a ground plus two-storey structure.
The entire footpath has been dug up and private compound walls demolished to make a narrow
passage for pedestrians to pass.

Mumbai metro: Swift, silent & safe

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Jan 9, 2009, 12.07am IST

MUMBAI: Mumbai's first metro rail line, Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG), promises to offer
several special features never before used in mass commuting in the country. Most importantly,
security will be very tight, especially after the recent 26/11 attacks.
Officials say they have altered security plans after the terror attacks. Every bag, no matter how small,
will now be screened by X-ray machines at the 12 stations on the line. There will also be a restriction
on the size and number of bags a person may carry.

The earlier plan to electronically frisk passengers at the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates will
also be implemented. All passenger movement inside stations and trains will be recorded by a CCTV
system monitored from a control room. The data will also be stored in black boxes.
The optimistic officials plan to present Mumbai with the totally new experience in suburban travel
more than two years before the official deadline to complete the project.
The elevated, 12-km VAG line should be commissioned by December 2010, an MMRDA official said.
The Rs 2,356-crore project is expected to drastically reduce the city's transport woes, by ferrying upto
25,000 passengers in a single direction during peak hours and reducing travel time from Versova to
Ghatkopar from 90 minutes to 21.
Mumbai's first metro rail also promises to have several other special features. The elevated track has
been designed to withstand severe natural calamities, like earthquakes and floods.
Even if a single door remains open, the train will not move. The doors will also have the ability to
detect obstacles in the doorways. This promises to reduce the number of accidents.
The VAG line will have a mechanised ticketing system using swipe cards. An MMOPL spokesperson
said that though commuters will be able to experience faster, noiseless transport, the cost would be
affordable. Ticket prices are expected to be comparable to BEST fares, though the minimum fare
would be higher than that of the cheapest bus ticket.
With trains noiseless and tracks vibration-proof, those living alongside the metro line would also not
be harassed, officials said. MMOPL project director K P Maheshwari said there would also be an
emphasis on saving upto 40% energy through various measures (see `Power Saving').
Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), a consortium led by Reliance Energy, has begun
constructing pillars along the 12-km track that will link the 12 stations. It is in the process of finalising
the features of the stations and the 16 4-car trains that will be bought from a Chinese company.
The MMOPL spokesperson said there have been substantial changes to the design of the foundation
because of problems encountered while relocating residents and businesses and the presence of
underground utilities.
The VAG track starts at Versova, runs along JP Road, crosses SV Road and goes over the Western
Railway tracks north of Andheri station. Carrying out work across the tracks at Andheri is challenging,
revealed officials. A cable-stayed bridge over the Western Express Highway flyover is being built above
a congested traffic junction. The bridge itself will have pylons 40 metres tall with a deck level 22
metres above the ground.

The alignment then travels down Andheri-Kurla Road to cross the Western Express Highway and
reach Saki Naka. From there, the alignment travels along the Andheri-Ghatkopar link road upto
Asalpha village, from where it goes to LBS Road, Heera Chand Desai Road and finally Ghatkopar
station.
Construction is continuing in a very limited area along the median on stretches at Asalpha, Sarvodaya
Hospital and Ghatkopar station.

Metro work leaves holes in water mains

Clara Lewis, TNN Mar 3, 2009, 03.50am IST

MUMBAI: Residents of Chakala, J B Nagar, Mahakali Caves and Marol have scarcely received any
water in the last three days. The area has been facing intermittent problems of choked drains and no
water supply ever since work on the Metro rail started in March last year.
With two major infrastructure works--widening of Andheri-Ghatkopar Link road and the piling work
for the Metro rail--being conducted simultaneously and the workers not provided with utility maps,
water mains and sewerage lines are being accidentally punctured on a regular basis. "The maps
showing the location of underground utilities, such as water mains, stormwater drains and sewer lines
are over 15-20 years old. In the last six years, the road has been widened twice and the utilities have
been shifted at certain places but the maps are yet to be updated,'' said R B Dhakane, local ward
officer.

He said on Friday sewerage lines near the Marol market were damaged, while the water mains near
the Andheri police station and the Marol fire brigade were affected owing to the piling work for the
Metro rail. "We have carried out a joint inspection with the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL)
officials and repair work is on,'' said Dhakane.
MMOPL officials were not available for comment.
The road has been under the purview of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA) since 2003 when it was taken up for widening. Most utilities were shifted to one side of the
route, but some continue to run under the main carriageway.
S Nandgirikar, chief engineer, roads, MMRDA, admitted that the absence of updated utility maps was
hampering work. "We are widening the road as well as building the foundations for the Metro rail. As
there are no updated maps we do not know where to excavate. The work is being done manually to
ensure there is no widespread damage. There have been several accidents as well but we are taking
care,'' he said.
The MMRDA, Nandgirikar added, was laying new water mains on either side of the road which would
connect to the existing water main under the main carriageway. "This should resolve the problem,'' he
added.

Centre agrees to pitch in Rs 460 cr for Metro's VAG route

Chittaranjan Tembhekar & Ashley D'Mello, TNN Mar 5, 2009, 02.15am IST

MUMBAI: In a significant development that will speed up the implementation of Mumbai's Metro rail
programme, the central government has approved Rs 460 crore as its share for the first phase of the
Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) route.
Being constructed by the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd, the first route demands a
share of Rs 650 crore from the state and central government. While the Centre is providing Rs 460
crore, the MMRDA and state government will provide Rs 190 crore. The remaining funds - out of the
total Rs 2,356 crore cost of the project - will be arranged by the private parties.

MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said the decision to fund the viability gap of Rs 460 crore
for the Metro's first line was taken last month in a meeting of top-level bureaucrats of the central
government.
Initially, the Centre had refused to extend the money, saying that provision for such sharing was not
there when the first Metro line was started.
"Looking into the scenario in which private companies were scared to bid for such projects, the Centre
must have taken this stand to extend the share,'' revealed another official from MMRDA. The Centre,
however, has already promised over Rs 1,500 crore share for the second line of Metro railway
proposed between Charkop and Mankhurd via Bandra at the cost of Rs 7,760 crore.
The executing agency the MMOPL is the joint venture of MMRDA, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani
Group and Veolia transport, France. While MMRDA is a 26% stakeholder in the project; the rest of the
stakes are with Reliance and Veolia.
According to MMOPL sources, the MMRDA has also extended over Rs 400 crore to shift the
underground utilities that were coming in way of the Metro construction. Several pillars have already
come up on the route with the concrete structure of Ghatkopar station almost in place.

Metro work hits Andheri sewer

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Apr 1, 2009, 01.53am IST

MUMBAI: Shifting and securing underground utilities like sewage and water mains for civic
infrastructure projects without affecting public life continue to be a difficult proposition.
Construction work on the city's first Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro rail corridor received a jolt
when an old and deeply laid sewage line got damaged at Manish Nagar on J P Road on Monday,
causing inconvenience to residents.

According to sources, the damage caused during digging is major and will take at least five days to
repair. It has stalled the construction work. The incident has occurred despite the fact that the
Reliance-led executing agency for the Metro rail project-- Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL)--had carried
out utility mapping of the entire stretch.
"The sewage mains were 30 ft below the ground and were aging. Water has spilled all over, causing
inconvenience to residents of the surrounding area,'' a source said. However, according to MMOPL
officials all-out efforts were being made to repair the damage and restore normalcy.
"MMOPL has engaged field experts, with experience in handling this kind of repair works at such a
deep level, to complete restoration in the shortest possible time,'' added an MMOPL official. Sources
said this is the first such mishap to have occurred during the construction of the Metro after it began a
year ago.
Bowing to pressure from residents, authorities had to recently postpone work on civic projects like the
sewage line at Pedder Road and the demolition of the Lalbaug flyover

Near-collapse at Metro site injures 4

Ashley DMello & Nitasha Natu, TNN Dec 1, 2009, 03.39am IST

MUMBAI: The near-collapse of a steel reinforcement cage and a temporary scaffolding for a concrete
pillar at the Mumbai Metro site on M V Road in Andheri (East) on Monday afternoon left four workers
injured.
"A tragedy was averted as there was little traffic on the street at 3.30 pm when the steel cage bent
sideways and hit an unoccupied Wagon R, damaging its rear,'' an Andheri police official said. A case of
negligence has been registered against the site engineer and the contractor working for Simplex
Construction Company.

According to officials in the city transport circles, this is the fourth accident on the Mumbai Metro's
first line, which being built from Versova to Ghatkopar via Andheri.
Two years ago, one person was killed and a auto-rickshaw driver was injured when a crane working at
the Metro site crashed into the vehicle on J P Road. In July, a scaffolding collapsed at a spot and the
next day, a labour supervisor was electrocuted at another.
The Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is building the Metro at a cost of Rs 2,356
crore, is a special-purpose vehicle owned jointly by Reliance Infrastructure Limited, the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region Development Authority and French multinational firm Veolia.
MMRDA joint project director Dilip Kawathkar said in the light of Monday's accident, officials would
review safety measures and make them more stringent. MMOPL officials said the incident was being
investigated and the exact cause would be determined soon. "However, from the initial probe, it seems
to be an error on the part of the contractor's worker. A team of engineers and workmen were rushed to
the site and the fallen material removed,'' an official said.
Till late in the evening, MMOPL top brass were huddled in a meeting working out a strategy for safety
issues which continue to dog the line. MMOPL officials said they would compensate the owner of the
vehicle damaged in Monday's incident.

Assess building harmed by metro work, says HC

Shibu Thomas, TNN Feb 24, 2010, 05.38am IST

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday ordered Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development
Authority (MMRDA) to carry out a structural audit of a building in Andheri West, following claims by
the housing society that its structure had been damaged due to the construction work on the Mumbai
metro.
Hearing an application filed by residents of Gautam Niwas on J P Road, Andheri West, a division
bench of Justice F I Rebello and Justice J H Bhatia asked MMRDA to submit an interim report within
seven days. Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL) offered to deposit Rs 10 lakh in court towards the
assessment and for subsequent repairs, if any.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Dr Monica Matani and other residents of the building, who
claimed that use of heavy duty vibro hammers had caused damage to the structure. MMOPL lawyer J
Bhat said vibro hammers were last used in October 2008, and denied their use was in any way
connected to the alleged damage. The advocate claimed the residents, under the guise of repairs, were
trying to get MMOPL to renovate the 30-year-old building. As a "goodwill gesture" MMOPL had
undertaken repairs of Dr Matani's flat, but other residents now claim that the building is in a
precarious condition.
Advocate Simran Puri, counsel for the residents, cited a report by a structural engineer that if there
are any more cracks, the building would have to be evacuated.
A report submitted to the court by MMRDA had said that "the distresses suffered by the building are,
in brief, not age related or gradually developed but appear to be a result of a violent vibratory motion."

First Metro rake wheels into Mumbai from Shanghai

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Apr 1, 2010, 01.03am IST

MUMBAI: The city's first Metro train with four coaches for the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG)
corridor arrived at a private portGTI adjacent to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)late on
Thursday.
The train has been taken to Metro's Versova depot, said the spokesperson for Mumbai Metro One
Private Ltd (MMOPL). Equipped with air-conditioned coaches, sophisticated video and audio
communication systems and a black box, the train has a unique lubrication system that spreads liquid
on the track while taking turns, thus keeping noise levels to only 62 decibels.

The spanking new silver-pink rake, covered in a plastic, was sailed in from Shanghai in Chinawhere it
was designed and manufactured by CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Co Ltd. The Reliance
Infrastructure (R-Infra)-led MMOPL has given contract to CSR Nanjing to manufacture 16 rakes for
this corridor, being built at Rs 2,356 crore. Violia Transport, France, is the consortium partner with RInfra. The corridor, 60% civic construction work of which is over, will have 12 stations.
The coaches, being unloaded at the port and likely to be dispatched to the car shed on Monday, will
undergo range of tests on parts of the 11.4-km Metro corridor. It will be stationed at the DN Nagar
depot in Versova where motormen, being recruited by the MMOPL, will be trained on simulation
device shortly. Though the project has a December 2010 deadline, the bridge close to the Andheri
station may delay the actual commissioning by four months. The route between DN Nagar depot and
Azad Nagar near Navrang Cinema is expected to be completed first.
"Before the train is put on track, the MMOPL will carry out several tests under local conditions," said
an MMOPL source. The rake was first tried and tested on a 1.3-km test track in Nanjing and was
dispatched a month ago. The rakes were also tested on an 11-km track inBeijing.
On Republic Day this year, Mumbaikars got a first glimpse of the city's Monorail. Now, on
Independence Day, the city may witness the first trial run of the Metro rail. However, a source said the
train might be unveiled on May 1, the day that marks the 50th anniversary of Maharashtra's
formation.

Metro partners give conflicting dates of project completion

Ashley D'Mello, TNN Dec 7, 2010, 04.05am IST

MUMBAI: Want to know when the Metro line from Versova to Ghatkopar will be finally ready for
public use? Pose this question to the partners implementing the project and you will get two dates.
While the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), which is building the Rs 2,356-crore first line,
insists that it will be ready by June-July 2011, officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (MMRDA) are sure that we may have to wait til next Diwali.

When contacted, MMOPL director K P Maheshwari said, "We are targeting the middle of next year for
finishing the line." On the other hand, MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said, "We will be
happy if it (the first line) is ready by Diwali next year."
When pointed out the disparity, MMRDA officials were quick to point out that according to the
agreement the date of completion was 2012. Maheshwari, however, said, "The Metro rail is a large
infrastructure project. A difference of one or two months is quite okay."

Work on Mumbai Metro bridge to start next month

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Jan 18, 2011, 01.09am IST

MUMBAI: The city's first Metro line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) has received a much needed push
with the railways approving the design of a crucial bridge over the suburban railway tracks near
Andheri station (between East and West ends). The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd and the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will commence the construction of the bridge
in the first week of February.
"Railways have approved the design of the bridge, which will be a steel structure. They have also
allotted us two hours late in the night for the construction. We hope to finish the work within seven to
eight months," MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar said. The bridge has been a stumbling block for
the corridor for almost a year as railways had raised objections over its height and structural
specifications. Claiming that Metro work is ahead of schedule, Kawathkar said it was necessary to wait
until due approvals as the bridge is passing from over the Railway territory. The technically
challenging bridge will be an iron structure with 183 meter length over western railway tracks.
Kawathkar said the MMOPL is already prepared with all plans and logistics to avoid delays in the
construction work.

The bridge will be constructed in three spans of 61 meter each. The fabrication work of one span is
already over and the rest is in progress. The three spans would be placed on four piers of which only
one would be erected between the railway lines and three would be away from the railway lines. "We
will ensure that the commuters are not inconvenienced". We are ready with the fixed time slots to
commence the work on this iconic structure," he added. A public sector undertaking under the
ministry of heavy industries, M/s BBJ (Kolkata), will construct the bridge.

Utility issues made Metro project an obstacle race

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Mar 25, 2011, 01.46am IST

Tags:

Manmohan Singh

MUMBAI: Around 225 different foundation styles have been used thus far to build the VersovaAndheri-Ghatkopar Metro line, something that officials involved with the project say could make the
construction unique worldwide. Due to a complex network of underground utilities and space and
traffic constraints, various designs had to be used to install underground piles and pile caps for the
metro.
KP Maheshwari, director of the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL),
said designing 225 different foundations for the 1,573 piles and 370 pile caps installed so far, and
achieving the feat in cramped roads, was a challenge. "But thankfully every issue has been sorted out
and work has now gained momentum," said Maheshwari.

The Metro line, which finance minister Ajit Pawar announced would be ready by November, has
already been delayed. The underground utility network, scarcity of space, traffic constraints, litigation
over property acquisition and red-tape over the Andheri bridge's design threw obstacles in the
MMOPL's path.
Maheshwari, whose team also built the airport express Metro in New Delhi, said constructing
Mumbai's Metro was different due to the city's unique challenges. MMRDA officials said the MMOPL
had to redesign viaduct and pillar structures above ground to contend with the narrow spaces and
widths available on roads. Its team also had restricted work hours.
MMRDA sources blamed poor data about utilities beneath roads, a lack of coordination between civic
utility agencies and between telephone, gas and power providers for delays. MMRDA sources said
Delhi had political will, better coordination and less political interference.
MMRDA officials said the railways delayed in approving the design for the Andheri bridge. They
admitted that the railways had to scrutinize minute details, but speedier disposal was required.
If compared with Metro construction work in Kolkata, Delhi (first phase) and Bangalore, the delay in
Mumbai appears reasonable, considering the issues with utilities, permissions and acquisitions.
However, if compared with other cities abroad like London and New York, Mumbai's work is behind
time.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh performed the bhoomi pujan in June 2006. After a delay of almost
two years due to red-tape, construction began. The latest deadline for the project is March 2012, but
that too is likely to be missed. "If we have to build such Metro lines in the future, there has to be better
coordination between agencies," said a source.

Vibro-hammer case: HC asks IIT-B for more proof of safety

Swati Deshpande, TNN Mar 29, 2011, 02.38am IST

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday asked IIT Bombay to state whether there would be any
latent damage in case vibro-hammers are used now to the piers of the metro rail project at Andheri.
An IIT-B panel had earlier suggested the use of vibro-hammers to re-assess the cause of damage to a
residential Andheri building. The residents had alleged that their use by MMOPL had damaged the
building two years ago.
The HC bench of Justices Ajay Khanwilkar and Mridula Bhatkar observed that it wanted to rule out
even a remote possibility of damage that could risk lives of lakhs of prospective commuters on the
metro line once it is completed.

The HC query came in the wake of opposition raised by MMOPL to the regulated use of vibrohammers as suggested by an expert IIT team at the metro site. The issue in court was the damage
caused to Varshana Cooperative Housing Society allegedly due to the use of heavy drilling machines
during the foundation work in the vicinity. Building resident Monica Matani had originally moved the
HC against MMOPL.
The cause of the building's damage is still not conclusive and the IIT had suggested a controlled re-use
at the spot. But MMOPL, which is constructing the mega-transport project, has now objected to it,
saying the pillars and piers are already erected and it was not advisable to use the vibro-hammer
because even if it causes no immediate damage, "the possibility of a latent damage which may go
undetected for yearscannot be ruled out"

Green light for Metro-II , but many hurdles ahead

Ashley D'Mello, TNN Apr 16, 2011, 06.14am IST

Tags:

Jairam Ramesh

MUMBAI: The Union environment ministry has given clearance to the 32-km phase II of Mumbai
Metro. The announcement was made on Friday by the minister, Jairam Ramesh, who was in Mumbai
to discuss issues related to environmental clearances for projects in Maharashtra.
The news cheered up officials at Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a consortium headed by
Reliance Infra, but they said hard work lies ahead.

"The issues with the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd line will be similar to those faced during the laying of
the first line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar ): getting a clear right of way along the route and the
shifting of utilities like water, power and telephone lines," said a MMOPL official. "Adding to the
problem is the fact that the civic authorities do not have proper maps of the layout of the underground
utilities. In clearing the path for the Metro, we will have to do guesswork. One wrong move and there
will be public outcry against the utilities being hit. Also, bridges need to be built over railway tracks in
Bandra, Kurla and Mankhurd."
Phase II is expected to cost Rs 11,500 crore. The construction period will depend on whether the
government can give a clear right of way from the beginning , the official said. Referring to the first
line, he said the right of way was not given at one go, but in stages, creating delays. "The government
took time to rehabilitate hundreds of projectaffected persons occupying residences, commercial
establishments and slum tenements lying on the Metro route."
Building the bridges at Bandra, Kurla and Mankhurd will be a tricky business. "Getting the railways to
agree to our design and safety norms will not be easy going by our experience during the laying of the
first metro line," the official said. "The railway authorities took their time in clearing the design for the
bridge near Andheri station. They have a number of norms that are not easy to adhere to."
He said MMOPL also fears protests by citizens. "When the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (MMRDA; the planning authority for the Metro) discussed with us plans for
the second line, citizen groups raised strong objections to the elevated route from Bandra to Vile Parle.
"They preferred an underground route, which would obviate the need for moving hundreds of
residences and shops. But the MMRDA ruled out the objections since the cost of an underground
route would be three times that of an elevated one. We just hope the protests don't erupt again."

Accidents prompt safety review

Ashley D'Mello, TNN Jul 9, 2011, 11.50pm IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is reviewing safety
conditions on all its major infrastructure projects in the city in the wake of accidents on Metro and
monorail project sites in the last ten days that claimed three lives.
The accidents highlighted a lacuna in the way contractors were implementing safety procedures on the
projects. MMRDA officials said they are conducting a thorough review and have asked for detailed
plans for safety drills and precautions being undertaken at all large projects. MMRDA officials said
that lessons learnt from this review will be implemented in all the major projects coming up in the
region.

"We have asked the MMOPL for all their safety rules and regulations in force and will be going over it
with a fine comb," said an MMRDA official. Transport consultants in the city have opined that
contractors coming up with detailed plans is not enough and that there needs to be proper
implementation at the ground level. The safety plans, some of which are based on Western models, it
should be noted that the workmen in India are different from their western counterparts.
The plans need to be adapted to the conditions on the workplace in the city, experts said.- Ashley
D'MelloThe MMRDA is the planning authority for the Metro, being built by special purpose vehicle
Mumbai Metro One, jointly owned by Reliance Infra, MMRDA and French firm Veolia. The Monorail
is being financed by the MMRDA and is being built by Larsen & Toubro and Scomi of Malaysia.
In addition there are several large rpad projects being undertaken by MMRDA including the Eastern
Freeway from Museum to Ghatkopar via the Mumbai Port Trust, the Sahar Elevated Road and the two
link roads Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road and Santacruz Chembur Link Road.
Officials said that a through review with experts will be done and the lessons learnt from this review
will be implemented in all the major projects coming up in the region.The MMRDA has the VirarAlibaug Multimodal Corridor and the mammoth trans harbour link between Shewri and Nhava on the
cards and it wants to do all it can for safety preparedness.
"We have asked the MMOPL for all their safety rules and regulations in force and will will be going
thorough it with a finecomb," said an MMRDA official. Transport consultants in the city have opined
that contractors coming up with detailed plans is not enough there needs to be proper implementation
at the ground level. While implementing the safety plans some oc which are based on Western models
it should be noted that the workmen in India are different from their western counterparts. The plans
need to be adapted to the conditions on the workplace in the city, lthey said.

Don't withhold Metro mishap details: MMRDA

Ashley D'Mello, TNN Jul 21, 2011, 06.09am IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which was informed
18 hours after the death of a worker at a project site, has asked the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd
(MMOPL) to take precautions and not withhold accident details from it.
MMOPL, which is building the first Metro line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar ) in the city, has blamed
its junior officials for initially attempting to conceal the death on its project site near Andheri station
on July 7. "We have written to MMOPL about the incident ," said an MMRDA official. "The worker
was rushed to a hospital and we also filed a report at the police station concerned . There was no
deliberate attempt to conceal anything," said an MMOPL official. Meanwhile, MMRDA officials are
discussing methods to gear up safety standards at project sites in the city.

Metro to be ready by 2012-end only

Ashley DMello, TNN Sep 6, 2011, 06.27am IST

Tags:

Reliance Infrastructure|
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|
Metro

MUMBAI: The Metro's first line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) will be ready only by the end of 2012,
and not early next year, as planned. This follows a "realistic assessment" by officials of Mumbai Metro
One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is constructing the Metro.
MMOPL is owned by Reliance Infrastructure, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA) and a French multinational, Veolia Transport.
The project encountered several problems when it began. .: Many shopkeepers at Andheri station had
to be rehabilitated, there were problems of "right of way" and complaints that the large drills used for
construction were affecting buildings along the route.

However an MMOPL spokesperson said most of the problems were now behind them. "Work is on at
various project phases simultaneously; these include construction of stations, depots, track work,
overhead electrification and signaling," he said.
While most stations along the 11-km route are incomplete, officials said in the Jagruti Nagar and
Airport Road ones were almost 95% complete. There are two crucial bridges along the route: A bridge
over Western Railway tracks in Andheri and a cable-stayed bridge over the Western Express highway.
The first bridge's work was delayed as there were prolonged talks with the railways over the method of
executing the project. "Work is now on with full cooperation from the railways,'' an MMOPL official
said.

Metro to be ready by 2012-end only

Ashley DMello, TNN Sep 6, 2011, 06.54am IST

Tags:

realistic assessment|
Mumbai Metro One Private Limited

MUMBAI: The Metro's first line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar ) will be ready only by the end of 2012,
and not early next year, as planned. This follows a " realistic assessment" by officials of Mumbai Metro
One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is constructing the Metro.
MMOPL is owned by Reliance Infrastructure, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA) and a French multinational, Veolia Transport.
The project encountered several problems when it began. However an MMOPL spokesperson said
most of the problems were now behind them.

Metro first line hinges on Andheri bridge

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Oct 11, 2011, 05.36AM IST

Tags:

Rahul Asthana|
Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd|
MMRDA|
civil construction work

Although the civil construction work for Mumbai's metro rail is moving at a snail's pace at a few
locations due to acquisition and right of way (ROW) issues, it appears to be inching closer to the
finishing line. Acquisition and ROW issues normally create a roadblock in not just the structure of a
project, but also the space required for the work.
All the 1,668 piles dug up to build 456 pillars along the 12-kilometre metro rail track are ready. Of the
456 pillars above these piles, only 54 are remaining . Pillar structures are considered crucial as once
they are ready, placing of U-shaped girders atop them (it is girders that host tracks and trains) can be
speeded up. Of the total 766 girders, 530 have been launched above the pillars and 121 are ready at the
workshop. Similarly, more than 70% of the work on 12 stations is complete as most of the station
structures have already come up to the platform level.

Sources at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), though, told TOI that
six pillars between Navrang theatre and S V Road on J P Road are not yet complete. This is because
the required space for construction is not available on the narrow stretch of the road, said officials.
Girders here have, therefore, been redesigned by the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) to
pace up the work. Civil works for the viaduct and the stations as well as the D N Nagar depot are
expected to be complete by May 2012.
On another large stretch of the line, between Asalpha and Jagruti Nagar stations, around 14 pillars are
facing hurdles posed by underground utilities as well as lack of traffic permissions. Similarly, the three
to four pillars needed to build the Asalpha station near Maheshwar temple are stuck as certain portion
of the temple land is to be acquired. Construction of three to four pillars near Sarvoday Hospital in
Ghatkopar, where the metro's last station will come up, too is faced with the acquisition row between
the MMRDA and the property owners.
The MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "We are hopeful that all these works would be
complete within the rescheduled deadline of August 2012, although they are being delayed due to
some reason or the other. MMOPL teams and MMRDA are working hard to resolve the acquisition
and ROW disputes with the concerned authorities and property owners. I am sure these issues will not
delay the commissioning of the metro." Asthana added that the Asalpha station may not be ready in
time.

It may be recalled that even the construction of cable-stay bridge above the Jog flyover on the Western
Express Highway is critical due to the huge traffic. Pillars for this bridge along the flyover have already
come up. Similarly, construction is on for a few pillars between WEH and Chakala stations besides a
few towards the Saki Naka station. "We hope to complete this bridge and a few pillars within the set
timeframe ," said MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar. According to Kawathkar, the viaduct and
station construction works will meet the new deadline.
The Train
Around 16 trains with four to six coaches each will ferry around 25,000 passengers in a single
direction during peak hours and reduce travel time from Versova to Ghatkopar to 21 minutes from the
present minimum 90 minutes. Air-conditioned coaches have seating along windows with most of the
space left for standing passengers. LCD screens, 3D route maps, first-aid , blackbox , fire fighting
equipments, facility to interact with motormen will be the specaialities of the metro which will offer
noiseless and vibration-proof travel. Emergency evacuation is also available.

Metro first line hinges on Andheri bridge

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Oct 11, 2011, 05.34AM IST

Tags:

Western Railway tracks near Andheri station|

Versova Nagar|
Reliance Infrastructure|
Rahul Asthana|
metro rail bridge|
Azad Nagar

The construction of a metro rail bridge above the existing Western Railway tracks near Andheri
station , which sees huge train traffic daily, will decide when Mumbai's first metro line between
Versova and Ghatkopar can be opened to public. Oddly , while the metro rail project is expected to be
complete by August 2012, the tentative deadline for the Andheri rail bridge is set one month later that is, September 2012.
The Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), which is led by Reliance Infrastructure as well as the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is eyeing test runs of the metro on
the three-kilometer stretch between Versova and Azad Nagar stations by March 2012. Similarly , the
entire project work has now been scheduled to be complete by August 2012, after the civil work for the
viaduct and station is over by May 2012.

"But for all of us working on this project, the railway bridge is going to be a very critical issue. It will
decide when we will be able to commission the city's first metro railway. We have invited experts from
abroad to suggest different methods to complete this bridge in record time of two to three months,
without disturbing suburban rail traffic. We are working on it now," said Rahul Asthana, MMRDA
commissioner.
On the 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line, more than 5,000 labourers, engineers and other staff
are working day and night in three shifts to achieve the targets. According to Asthana, the 183-meter
railway bridge will be built segment by segment, which means, each will be laid between the three
main pillars of the bridge during two hours of train blockage late in the night. "We are getting one and
a half hours to two hours to put up the segments everyday.
Considering this time, we will be able to place only two to three segments every day, which means a
minimum of 10 months for construction . The railways have been very helpful in getting more hours of
train blocks, but it is still a challenge to complete the work within the set deadline ," said Asthana.
MMOPL sources said that one of the three pillars along the railway tracks has come up and the other
two are remaining . "The most crucial would be the one which is right in the middle of the railway
tracks. Working on it when the traffic is live will be a big challenge," said Asthana.

However, he said experts from abroad will study the bridge and help us fasten the segment-laying
work so that it could be finished within two to three months without disturbing the traffic. "We are
meeting in the next couple of weeks to decide whether any quick method can be evolved. Certainly
then, we will be able to set the deadline for the bridge as well as the entire project," Asthana said. He,
however, remains confident that the trial run of the metro between Versova and Azad Nagar stations
will be carried out by March 2012.

Fire dept nod to Metro under lens

Swati Deshpande, TNN Feb 16, 2012, 06.08AM IST

Tags:

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|

MMRDA|
Bombay high court

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the fire department to file an affidavit
explaining how it granted a clearance to the Versova-Ghatkopar Metro rail work after a PIL
questioned its validity. It also called for affidavits from the state urban development department, civic
administration , Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority ( MMRDA) and Mumbai
Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL). The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Andheri
resident Monica Matani alleging improper fire clearance and violations of development control
regulations (DCR), building code and fire prevention rules in the Metro project.
The PIL alleged that the state and civic authorities as well as the Anil Ambani group-led MMOPL are
"putting the lives of those living adjacent to the stations and of thousands who would be using the
Metro at risk" by flouting rules and allowing the Metro station at Ghatkopar to almost graze buildings.
The minimum space requirement from the existing buildings is five metres from a viaduct and three
metres from a railway station building, said Matani, but in Ghatkopar the gap is as less as one-andhalf metre, not enough for fire brigade vehicles to reach or pass. Her counsel Fredun De'Vitre said a
NOC for all 12 station buildings was given even though the law mandates a separate clearance for each
building. Besides, the clearance was sought in December 2009 though work began in February 2008.

The stand of the fire department was that it would not issue a "compliance certificate" if violations are
found after completion of Metro's first phase. "This is unreasonable and a perverse approach to allow
illegalities to continue," Matani said, adding it could only presumably lead to a "regularization" plea as
some of the conditions "cannot be complied with due to the topography and location of existing
buildings."
MMOPL counsel J J Bhat said the nod was granted in accordance with law on the same lines as in
Delhi and Bangalore for Metro projects. He said the petitioner had earlier filed a plea which led to her
flat being repaired by the company.
The fire department issued the NOC in March 2010, about 18 months before the petition was filed.
MMOPL is expected to question the petition on delay . MMOPL has also said that it has engaged
international consultants to ensure compliance with the fire NOC at all stages and that the PIL is filed
to "jeopardize" the project.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority upset

with Metro delay
Ashley D'Mello, TNN May 8, 2012, 01.16AM IST

Tags:

S Srinivas|
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|
MMOPL

MUMBAI: Upset with the tardy progress of work on the first line of Metro, the Mumbai Metropolitan
Region Development Authority (MMRDA) held a review meeting with officials of Mumbai Metro 1,
which is constructing the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line to identify the "problem" areas.
After the meeting, the state agency has reportedly found ways to overcome the hurdles that are
slowing down work. The construction of the Metro depot at D N Nagar is progressing well and it
should be ready in five months, said MMRDA additional commissioner S Srinivas, who called the
meeting. According to him, in pockets along the route, encroachments and residents' refusal to move
out were not allowing the authorities to have a "clear right of way". But, Srinivas said, with most of the
residents and those having commercial establishments along the route being rehabilitated, the way
has been cleared and so, the work would now progress fast.

The project, which is nearing completion, is scheduled to be opened to the public early next year.
Initially, the work was slowed down after shopkeepers near the Andheri station refused to vacate the
place unless being offered a "proper" rehabilitation scheme. Even the railways refused to give
permission to the authorities build a bridge over the tracks in Andheri West unless the bridge design
was altered. Only after over a year of negotiations, the MMOPL got the sanction to build the bridge.
Srinivas added, "The work on the bridge is in the second stage."

HC: Wont interfere in important infrastructure project

Rosy Sequeira, TNN Jul 15, 2012, 04.19AM IST

Tags:

public project|
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd|
Metro rail project|
Bombay high court

MUMBAI: Observing that it will not interfere in a public project of considerable importance to
residents of Mumbai, the Bombay high court dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the construction of
a staircase for the Metro rail project near a shopping mall in Andheri (E).
On June 26, a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Nitin Jamdar heard a petition
filed by M/s Sahar Developers, urging directions to restrain the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) from constructing
the proposed staircase for the J B Nagar/Chakala Metro station close to the main gate of Sahar Plaza
Complex on M V Road. The petitioner had sought relocation of the proposed staircase to some other
place at the safe distance from the mall.

According to the petition, one of the four staircases will land near the entry gate and close to the main
gate of Sahara Plaza Complex. Sahar's counsel Prasad Dhakephalkar argued that the decision to
provide for the staircase near the mall's main gate was taken without considering the difficulties and
inconvenience to the occupants of and visitors to the shopping complex.
But MMRDA and MMOPL's advocates submitted that all relevant factors, including commuter
convenience and public safety, were considered while locating the staircase at its existing position.
There are four staircases in the station building. The advocates informed the court that the
construction of the station building and the staircases was at an advanced stage and near completion.
In their order, the judges said, "As per the settled legal position, in such matters, the writ court does
not sit in appeal over the decisions of the authorities which are entrusted with the execution and
implementation of the public project of considerable importance to the residents of Mumbai."

50-ft-long Mumbai metro slab slips, 1 killed, 16 hurt

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 5, 2012, 12.07AM IST

Tags:

Suresh Nair|
state health minister|
Sahar police|
Rahul Asthana|
Prithviraj Chavan|
Naseem Khan|
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd|
MMRDA|
Hindustan Construction Company

MUMBAI: A 50-feet long concrete slab collapsed at the Metro railway's under-construction airport
station around 4.35pm on Tuesday, killing at least one labourer and injuring 16 others, two of them
critically. Naseem Khan, guardian minister for the suburbs, who informed the cabinet of the incident,
said the slab slipped while it was being mounted on the scaffolding. The state government has ordered
an inquiry into the incident.
Sahar police have registered a case against unidentified people under section 304A of the IPC for
causing death by negligence. State health minister Suresh Shetty said all the injured and the one dead
were labourers. "An enquiry has been ordered to find out whether the contractor's shoddy work
caused the incident. We will decide on the compensation to be paid to the victims," he said.

Indications were that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is scheduled to travel to Nashik on
Wednesday morning, could visit the accident site later in the afternoon.
The 12 km metro railway, being built by Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd
(MMOPL), has been plagued by several mishaps from the start. RInfra had appointedHindustan
Construction Company, which has built the Bandra-Worli Sea link, as sub-contractor for the Rs 2,356crore project. Tuesday's incident has again put the focus back on the quality of construction at the
Metro project. Sources said inquiries into the incident and inspections may push the deadline of the
much-delayed project by a month or two.
"We deeply regret the accident at the airport station Metro site, which is being constructed by our
contractor HCC. Our emergency response team along with HCC staff is at the site to provide rescue
and relief services which is the immediate priority for us. We will keep the media and affected parties
posted as we obtain more information on the accident," an MMOPL spokesperson said.
MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "The MMRDA is a minority stake-holder in the RInfraled MMOPL. The state government will order an inquiry into the incident."

Minutes after the incident, locals and pedestrains present at the spot rushed to rescue labourers
trapped in the debris and called the fire brigade. The slab collapsed a few metres from the road and
locals said casualties could have been higher if the slab had fallen on vehicles passing below.
Sources said one labourer died while being taken to hospital. Three workers were taken to the critical
care units of the nearby Seven Hills and Cooper hospitals. An eyewitness, Suresh Nair, who was
withdrawing cash from a nearby ATM, said he heard a loud noise when the freshly-laid concrete slab
and supporting girders started falling, trapping labourers below. Eyewitnesses said the incident
occurred towards Leela Galleria, close to the portion of the footpath of Andheri-Ghatkopar road,
where a staircase for the proposed Metro was being built. "People were running helter-skelter as the
concrete and iron sheets began falling," said Nair.
The debris and rescue operations created huge traffic snarls in the area for more than three hours. As
rescue operations began, the traffic police deployed additional personnel as the incident coincided
with the evening peak-hour. Vehicles were diverted to Kumaria junction through Sahar. "The AndheriKurla road was closed for traffic moving towards the Western Express Highway and diversions were
put in place. We also circulated text messages advising people to take the Sahar road instead," said a
senior traffic official. Major snarls were reported on arterial roads like Sahar road, Aarey road and
nearby areas leading to the Western Express Highway, including JB Nagar and Chakala. The road was
reopened to traffic by late Tuesday night.

Private partnership review likely after infra accidents

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 7, 2012, 01.28AM IST

Tags:

Private Partnership|
MMRDA|
Metro|
infra accidents

MUMBAI: The state government may consider a change in the way infrastructure projects are
executed, which may include altering the currently favoured public-private-partnership model.
The government is reportedly weighing options like retaining the majority stake in future projects,
giving public bodies like the MMRDA greater say in the execution of projects. There have been
indications of a significant shift in policy for a while now, but recent accidents at several infrastructure
projects in the city is believed to have triggered the move.

"Projects which have not taken off yet will either not have private partners or only with a minority
stake," said highly placed sources in the administration. Projects likely to be affected are the upcoming
Nhava-Sewri link and the Navi Mumbai airport. In Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd, which is building
the first metro rail between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri at the cost of Rs 2356 crore, Reliance
Infrastructure is the major stake holder with 69%, its technical partner, Veolia Corporation has 5%
while MMRDA has 26%.
MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said an emergency meeting of the MMOPL board has been
convened next week to discuss Tuesday's Metro mishap and the line of actions ahead. However, an
MMOPL spokesperson denied of having issued any direction from MMRDA in this regard.
Meanwhile two people employed with HCC, civil engineer Krishna Valvekar and site supervisor
Kalicharan Patra, were arrested for the Metro mishap based on preliminary evidence. HCC is the subcontractor. Valvekar and Patra were booked under IPC sections for 304 (A) (death due to negligence),
337 (endangering life) and 338 (grievous hurt). They were produced before the Andheri metropolitan
magistrate on Thursday and released on bail.
Senior officials said having private partners with majority stakes meant government agencies have to
take the flak for mishaps without direct authority. "We will prefer to opt for funding from banks,
besides part funding from the Centre," sources said.
MMOPL sources however said it was not the PPP model hampering the project but the inability of the
government and its agencies in getting the right of way (ROW) for construction within the timeframe.
(With inputs from V Narayan)

Safety review of all infra projects likely

MUMBAI: Taking serious note of the Metro mishap and the frequency of mishaps at the city's ongoing
infrastructure projects, the state government is considering a review of safety procedures and quality
of work at all major infrastructure projects.
Most of these projects are being executed by the MMRDA, while a few are by the MSRDC and BMC. A
demand for a safety check of all infrastructure projects is also believed to have been raised in the state
cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Indicating that the demand for a quality check of all infrastructure projects had takers outside the
government too, Congress legislator Krishna Hegde (Vile Parle) on Thursday met chief minister
Prithviraj Chavan to demand an independent third party audit of quality, stability and safety measures
for all MMRDA projects. Speaking to TOI, Hegde also called for a review of cost escalations in the
Milan subway flyover and the flyover work being carried at the Amar Mahal junction in Chembur.

Metro-I likely to miss deadline again

Chittaranjan Tembhekar Sep 8, 2012, 02.53AM IST

Tags:

Mumbai Metro One Private Limited|

MMRDA|
Metro One

MUMBAI: The Metro One timetable is set to be marred further. Already running late, the city's first
metro project seems likely to miss its third deadline of March 2013, said senior officials of the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a stakeholder in the project.
State government officials, too, feel that engineers will find it difficult to push their teams as
construction has to be carried out with utmost care, especially in heavy showers, because none of the
agencies involved in the project would want any slip-ups in the rush to meet deadline.

On Tuesday, a portion of a station's concourse and the staircase that was being laid in rain came
crashing down, killing a labourer and injuring 16 others.
The monsoon, which seems to be reviving in the city at its fag end, is adding to the construction woes.
Indian meteorological department officials said normally monsoon showers are expected till the end
of September, but because it took long to pick up, the rains may continue till the first week of October.
MMRDA sources feared work may have to be suspended frequently in case of heavy rains ahead,
particularly scuttling efforts to stick to targets on building the 12 stations, especially the landing
staircases on or along footpaths. Approval from railway safety certification authorities after test runs
is another issue.
"These can surely affect the metro deadline by two months or more," said one source.
Already, work was suspended till Friday for three days for a state government-ordered safety audit of
the entire 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line by experts.
The spokesperson for Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the Reliance Infrastructure-led
consortium that is implementing the project, dismissed the fears. "Closure of work for a couple of days
is definitely not going to affect the project schedule...," he said.
Sources close to MMOPL said work will start on Saturday, but only at some of the locations on the line
and with more precautions. Yet, rains won't delay the project, they claimed, as they have completed
more than 80% work on 11 stations, except for the 12th Subhash Nagar station. "Any issue of delay in
certification from railway safety authorities after test runs can be discussed at a later stage. As of now,
we don't foresee any delay in completion of work," said a source.

50-ft-long Mumbai metro slab slips, 1 killed, 16 hurt

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 5, 2012, 12.07AM IST

Tags:

Suresh Nair|
state health minister|
Sahar police|
Rahul Asthana|
Prithviraj Chavan|
Naseem Khan|
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd|
MMRDA|
Hindustan Construction Company

MUMBAI: A 50-feet long concrete slab collapsed at the Metro railway's under-construction airport
station around 4.35pm on Tuesday, killing at least one labourer and injuring 16 others, two of them
critically. Naseem Khan, guardian minister for the suburbs, who informed the cabinet of the incident,
said the slab slipped while it was being mounted on the scaffolding. The state government has ordered
an inquiry into the incident.
Sahar police have registered a case against unidentified people under section 304A of the IPC for
causing death by negligence. State health minister Suresh Shetty said all the injured and the one dead
were labourers. "An enquiry has been ordered to find out whether the contractor's shoddy work
caused the incident. We will decide on the compensation to be paid to the victims," he said.

Indications were that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is scheduled to travel to Nashik on
Wednesday morning, could visit the accident site later in the afternoon.
The 12 km metro railway, being built by Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd
(MMOPL), has been plagued by several mishaps from the start. RInfra had appointedHindustan
Construction Company, which has built the Bandra-Worli Sea link, as sub-contractor for the Rs 2,356crore project. Tuesday's incident has again put the focus back on the quality of construction at the
Metro project. Sources said inquiries into the incident and inspections may push the deadline of the
much-delayed project by a month or two.
"We deeply regret the accident at the airport station Metro site, which is being constructed by our
contractor HCC. Our emergency response team along with HCC staff is at the site to provide rescue
and relief services which is the immediate priority for us. We will keep the media and affected parties
posted as we obtain more information on the accident," an MMOPL spokesperson said.
MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "The MMRDA is a minority stake-holder in the RInfraled MMOPL. The state government will order an inquiry into the incident."

Minutes after the incident, locals and pedestrains present at the spot rushed to rescue labourers
trapped in the debris and called the fire brigade. The slab collapsed a few metres from the road and
locals said casualties could have been higher if the slab had fallen on vehicles passing below.
Sources said one labourer died while being taken to hospital. Three workers were taken to the critical
care units of the nearby Seven Hills and Cooper hospitals. An eyewitness, Suresh Nair, who was
withdrawing cash from a nearby ATM, said he heard a loud noise when the freshly-laid concrete slab
and supporting girders started falling, trapping labourers below. Eyewitnesses said the incident
occurred towards Leela Galleria, close to the portion of the footpath of Andheri-Ghatkopar road,
where a staircase for the proposed Metro was being built. "People were running helter-skelter as the
concrete and iron sheets began falling," said Nair.
The debris and rescue operations created huge traffic snarls in the area for more than three hours. As
rescue operations began, the traffic police deployed additional personnel as the incident coincided
with the evening peak-hour. Vehicles were diverted to Kumaria junction through Sahar. "The AndheriKurla road was closed for traffic moving towards the Western Express Highway and diversions were
put in place. We also circulated text messages advising people to take the Sahar road instead," said a
senior traffic official. Major snarls were reported on arterial roads like Sahar road, Aarey road and
nearby areas leading to the Western Express Highway, including JB Nagar and Chakala. The road was
reopened to traffic by late Tuesday night.

Private partnership review likely after infra accidents

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 7, 2012, 01.28AM IST

Tags:

Private Partnership|
MMRDA|
Metro|
infra accidents

MUMBAI: The state government may consider a change in the way infrastructure projects are
executed, which may include altering the currently favoured public-private-partnership model.
The government is reportedly weighing options like retaining the majority stake in future projects,
giving public bodies like the MMRDA greater say in the execution of projects. There have been
indications of a significant shift in policy for a while now, but recent accidents at several infrastructure
projects in the city is believed to have triggered the move.

"Projects which have not taken off yet will either not have private partners or only with a minority
stake," said highly placed sources in the administration. Projects likely to be affected are the upcoming
Nhava-Sewri link and the Navi Mumbai airport. In Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd, which is building
the first metro rail between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri at the cost of Rs 2356 crore, Reliance
Infrastructure is the major stake holder with 69%, its technical partner, Veolia Corporation has 5%
while MMRDA has 26%.
MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said an emergency meeting of the MMOPL board has been
convened next week to discuss Tuesday's Metro mishap and the line of actions ahead. However, an
MMOPL spokesperson denied of having issued any direction from MMRDA in this regard.
Meanwhile two people employed with HCC, civil engineer Krishna Valvekar and site supervisor
Kalicharan Patra, were arrested for the Metro mishap based on preliminary evidence. HCC is the subcontractor. Valvekar and Patra were booked under IPC sections for 304 (A) (death due to negligence),
337 (endangering life) and 338 (grievous hurt). They were produced before the Andheri metropolitan
magistrate on Thursday and released on bail.
Senior officials said having private partners with majority stakes meant government agencies have to
take the flak for mishaps without direct authority. "We will prefer to opt for funding from banks,
besides part funding from the Centre," sources said.
MMOPL sources however said it was not the PPP model hampering the project but the inability of the
government and its agencies in getting the right of way (ROW) for construction within the timeframe.
(With inputs from V Narayan)

Safety review of all infra projects likely

MUMBAI: Taking serious note of the Metro mishap and the frequency of mishaps at the city's ongoing
infrastructure projects, the state government is considering a review of safety procedures and quality
of work at all major infrastructure projects.
Most of these projects are being executed by the MMRDA, while a few are by the MSRDC and BMC. A
demand for a safety check of all infrastructure projects is also believed to have been raised in the state
cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Indicating that the demand for a quality check of all infrastructure projects had takers outside the
government too, Congress legislator Krishna Hegde (Vile Parle) on Thursday met chief minister
Prithviraj Chavan to demand an independent third party audit of quality, stability and safety measures
for all MMRDA projects. Speaking to TOI, Hegde also called for a review of cost escalations in the
Milan subway flyover and the flyover work being carried at the Amar Mahal junction in Chembur.

Metro-I likely to miss deadline again

Chittaranjan Tembhekar Sep 8, 2012, 02.53AM IST

Tags:

Mumbai Metro One Private Limited|

MMRDA|
Metro One

MUMBAI: The Metro One timetable is set to be marred further. Already running late, the city's first
metro project seems likely to miss its third deadline of March 2013, said senior officials of the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a stakeholder in the project.
State government officials, too, feel that engineers will find it difficult to push their teams as
construction has to be carried out with utmost care, especially in heavy showers, because none of the
agencies involved in the project would want any slip-ups in the rush to meet deadline.

On Tuesday, a portion of a station's concourse and the staircase that was being laid in rain came
crashing down, killing a labourer and injuring 16 others.
The monsoon, which seems to be reviving in the city at its fag end, is adding to the construction woes.
Indian meteorological department officials said normally monsoon showers are expected till the end
of September, but because it took long to pick up, the rains may continue till the first week of October.
MMRDA sources feared work may have to be suspended frequently in case of heavy rains ahead,
particularly scuttling efforts to stick to targets on building the 12 stations, especially the landing
staircases on or along footpaths. Approval from railway safety certification authorities after test runs
is another issue.
"These can surely affect the metro deadline by two months or more," said one source.
Already, work was suspended till Friday for three days for a state government-ordered safety audit of
the entire 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line by experts.
The spokesperson for Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the Reliance Infrastructure-led
consortium that is implementing the project, dismissed the fears. "Closure of work for a couple of days
is definitely not going to affect the project schedule...," he said.
Sources close to MMOPL said work will start on Saturday, but only at some of the locations on the line
and with more precautions. Yet, rains won't delay the project, they claimed, as they have completed
more than 80% work on 11 stations, except for the 12th Subhash Nagar station. "Any issue of delay in
certification from railway safety authorities after test runs can be discussed at a later stage. As of now,
we don't foresee any delay in completion of work," said a source.

Metro work to be stalled for 5 days

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 11, 2012, 02.08AM IST

Tags:

Veolia Corporation|
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|
Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd|
Metro

MUMBAI: Construction work on the Metro's Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route, which was stalled
since last week's mishap in Andheri to facilitate safety audit and independent probe, may not start for
another five to six days.
Ahead of its Tuesday's meeting, the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) has announced the
suspension of work on the route. "The decision has been taken suo motu by the company at a highlevel meeting," said MMOPL spokesperson. An engineer and a supervisor of Hindustan Construction
Company, Rinfra-led MMOPL's sub-contractor,

were arrested after the mishap. Like HCC there are several sub-contractors working on the 12 km
route comprising 12 stations.
MMOPL is the Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) -led company with equity participation of Veolia
Corporation of France and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). While
RInfra -Veolia consortium has 74 per cent stakes in the project, MMRDA has 26 per cent with a veto
power.
"The stalling work of will not impact the cost and deadline," of the project,"
said the MMOPL spokesperson. The project cost is around Rs 2356 crore and the new extended
deadline is March 2013 which according to MMRDA officials is again an unlikely target following
extended monsoon and the amount of pending works.
"With respect to human life, safety and quality, MMOPL has taken the decision to suspend all the
work; it will facilitate an elaborate third-party safety audit for the entire 12-km project and also ensure
adherence to the highest safety standards at all locations. We would like to ensure "ZERO INCIDENT"
project site all the time and by all our contractors on the site."
According to MMOPL the company had decided to appoint an independent safety firm to ensure strict
compliance at all time and at all locations. "MMOPL will resume the construction work once we are
confident that all the contractors and vendors were committed to all types of safety norms," the
company stated in its press release on Monday.

On September 4, 2012, while concreting a 61-feet staircase and a portion of a concourse slab of airport
metro station, the staging (a support to the concrete slab that was being laid) suddenly subsided and
came crashing along with labourers who were mounting the concrete atop. MMOPL and MMRDA
have already appointed an inquiry committee of experts to probe the incident which is primarily
suspected to have caused by ignoring rains while laying a concrete slab. According to sources of the 16
injured 14 have been discharged and remaining two were operated upon. Compensation to the family
of a dead labourer and those injured is being extended, said sources.

Safety first, deadline secondary: Metro chief

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 12, 2012, 03.08AM IST

Tags:

RInfra|
MMRDA|
MMOPL|
Metro rail project

MUMBAI: After last week's mishap that claimed a labourer's life and injured 16 others and a few other
mishaps in the past, Mumbai's first Metro rail project appears to have finally learnt its lesson.
Construction sites of all the metro stations will have safety nets and better lighting below to avoid the
possible danger of objects falling on the traffic below besides everyday safety review and monitoring.
SGS, a global agency in construction management and safety, will now take stock of the safety audit. It
will decide whether every plan and action in Metro construction will be safe or not besides ensuring
that the condition of the road along the construction path is well maintained.

"Even though we are racing to meet the already extended deadline (March 2013) and construction
work is being stalled for 10 to 15 days to conduct a thorough review and rectify mistakes if any, there
will be no compromise with safety," said Sumit Banerjee, CEO of RInfra's road and metro rail
construction wing.
Reliance Infrastructure ( RInfra) leads the MMOPL as a major stakeholder in the project. MMOPL
will also have separate sub-committee dedicated to safety aspect of construction from now onwards,
announced Banerjee.
"There are still two minor hurdlesdelayed acquisition of a small portion of a mosque for the
upcoming Andheri railway bridge and that of Maheshwar temple in Subhash Nagar near Asalpha for
constructing a station. Similarly, no space to land staircases of two other Metro stations may add to
the trouble," sources in the Mumbai Metro On Private Ltd (MMOPL) revealed.
"Cost of safety assumes priority as it can either push deadlines in case of mishaps or help achieve the
target if implemented at the minutest levels. And we are committed to meet the March 2013 deadline
even if the safety audit takes more than 15 days," said Banerjee. According to him despite the delay in
getting right of way (ROW) and lack of space for construction, the work has gone ahead with a
remarkable speed. "Had we got ROW in time, construction would have been complete in three years,"
he claimed.
MMRDA Chief Rahul Asthana said the MMOPL should be more proactive in terms of time-to-time
safety audit and ensuring safety precautions everyday.

Tardy MMRDA held up Metro-I work

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 17, 2012, 06.17AM IST

Tags:

RInfra|
Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd|
MMRDA|
Metro-I project

MUMBAI: The launch of Metro-I project in 2006 had given Mumbaikars hope that their travel travails
may abate before long. But six years on, the project is less in news for successes than for grim reports
of mishaps and periodic announcements of delays.
Reliance Infrastructure, which is the major stakeholder in the consortium developing the project,
Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), blames the delay in Metro-I's completion on MMRDA. The
government agency, RInfra officials say, failed to free up land for construction on time and hand it
over, causing the prolonged hold-up.

As per the contractual agreement made by MMRDA with RInfra, the former was to acquire land along
Metro-I's Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route and deliver what is called the "right of way" to MMOPL
by December 2008. But that scarcely happened; in fact, till August of that year, only 20% of the land
had been freed. Thus, when construction started in October 2008, there was little path available to
build on. It did not help that maps of underground utilities, such as pipelines and cables, were initially
absent. MMOPL finally received 100% of the land earmarked for the project in December 2011,
according to sources.
As a result of the tardiness, the official deadline for Metro-I's completion was put off repeatedly . From
March 2010, it was first changed to March 2012 and then to March 2013. Even the last deadline, some
officials admit, is unachievable, given the long list of unfinished work.
"There are still two minor hurdlesdelayed acquisition of a small portion of a mosque's premises for
the Andheri railway bridge and of Maheshwar temple in Subhash Nagar for constructing a station.
Similarly, no space to land the staircases of two other Metro stations may add to the trouble ," a source
in RInfra revealed.
The recent mishap at a Metro site on Andheri-Ghatkopar Road is also expected to affect the
timetable . Work on the line has been stopped for a few days while a safety audit is carried out.
MMRDA refused to comment on RInfra officials' assertions, just stating it had planned on getting the
"right of way" as the project progressed.
RInfra officials say the tardiness in acquiring land created other constraints. "Against the 20 metre
construction path made available in Delhi and other cities where Metro work is on, we had to carry out
the construction by barricading a 5 metre-wide space throughout the congested path. Due to

underground utilities , foundation designs had to be changed and the engineering of top sections of
the viaduct was modified to use of I-girders instead of the normal U-girders ," a source said.

Work resumes on first Mumbai Metro line

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 27, 2012, 01.17AM IST

Tags:

Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd.|

first Metro line

MUMBAI: Work on the first Metro line, the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, resumed on
Tuesday after three weeks. Work was stopped after a slab collapsed at an under-construction station
in Andheri on September 4, killing one labourer and injuring 16.
"Work has commenced based on the recommendations of the SGS, a firm of international repute in
construction safety and standards, which is now supervising the work. The SGS has already deployed
its team till the time construction gets over," said spokesperson of Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd.
(MMOPL). The work was stopped to conduct safety audit and inquiries by different probe committees
into the mishap.

The SGS has submitted its preliminary inquiry report to Metro authorities. Report of a parallel inquiry
by MMRDA's independent experts, including an IIT professor and a PWD officer, is awaited.Chittaranjan Tembhekar Weak temporary foundation to the under-construction slab and raining are
suspected to have caused the mishap when the concrete was being mounted atop.
The work on the metro, which began in 2008 was expected to be over by March 2012 but the deadline
was extended till March 2013 a few months ago. According to sources in the state government even
the new deadline may have to be extended as actual commissioning may take time. There have been
eight smaller and minor mishaps on the metro sites since the beginning of the work.
In the meantime MMOPL spokesperson said --- "There will be no impact on the time line. ON the
contrary due to more stringent safety norms work will be more productive. The joint committee of
MMRDA-MMOPL on safety has also appreciated the steps taken towards ensuring safety standards."
The Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra)-led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) is building the
project at a cost of Rs 2356 crore. Veolia Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development
Authority (MMRDA) are the minority share holders in the MMOPL.

City's first Metro corridor to get water recycling plant

TNN Apr 10, 2013, 01.40AM IST

Tags:

united nations|
Metro corridor|
Ahluwalia Contractors India Ltd

MUMBAI: The city's first Metro project will have a treatment plant to recycle water used to wash
rakes. Four lakh litres of water will be recycled on the city's first Metro corridor between Versova and
Ghatkopar. Mumbai's first 12 km metro rail project between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri will
be greener as it will save and recycle around 4 lakh liters of water to be used for washing and cleaning
trains.The Reliance Infrastructure-led
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd, which is constructing the link between Versova and Ghatkopar, plans to
commission the waste water treatment plant with a capacity to recycle five lakh litres of water daily at
Versova. State-of-the-art waste water treatment plant has been built at Metro's Versova car shed
where the trains would be housed for repairing and cleaning.

"The waste water treatment plant is expected to be started by May. Once commissioned, the unit
comprehensive waste water treatment plant will ensure that water used in operating the Metro gets
treated and pumped back into the system thereby achieving zero-waste discharge," a MMOPL
spokesperson said. Ahluwalia Contractors India Ltd have been put on the job by MMOPL.
Expressing solidarity with the United Nations' proclamation of the year 2013 as the "International
Year of water Cooperation", Mumbai Metro One has undertaken this unique initiative in light of the
increased demand for water.
"The project will not only aim at creating awareness about responsible water use, treatment, and
disposal, but also encourage water conservation at a time when the country and Maharashtra is
battling with large-scale water shortage," he added. The daily water requirement at MMOPL's Versova
Car Shed would be of 3 lac litres for domestic usage and another 0.5 lac litres for industrial as well as
few additional requirements for other plants and equipments.

Metro opens in Sept, but only for half a ride

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Apr 28, 2013, 01.44AM IST

Tags:

Subhash Nagar Jagruti Nagar Ghatkopar|

Reliance Infrastructure|
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|
Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd|
Inflation

MUMBAI: Metro services are expected to be finally flagged off in September but initially, Mumbaikars
will only be able to take a ride on a 7-km stretch out of the 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route.
This was revealed a day after the first trial run was conducted on Friday.
"We are expecting the certification for Metro's commercial run from the commissioner of railway
safetyby September, after which, we hope to operate it on the initial 7-km stretch fromVersova to
Airport stationAndheri," said an MMRDA official.

According to sources in Reliance Infra-led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), the entire 12km ride from Versova to Ghatkopar will be made available for commuters only by December.
"Finishing work at nearly five stations, which fall on the remaining 5-km section (from airport station
in Andheri to Ghatkopar station), will take some more time," a source said, requesting anonymity.
On Friday, before the 'official' trial takes place, scheduled for May 1, senior officials and the
metropolitan administration went on a 3-km ride from Versova Depot to Azad Nagar station on J P
Road. This was the first-ever trial with officials onboard. Several 'technical dry runs' were undertaken
in the past for electrical and mechanical testing of the Metro. Officials of MMOPL, Veolia Corporation
of France, which is supplying the rakes, and MMRDA were onboard the Metro during the trial. These
trials are crucial for safety certification of the viaduct and train operations.
The MMRDA has already granted MMOPL another 540 days to finish the Metro work, pushing the
August 2013 deadline to March 12 onwards. An MMRDA source said that the agency had to extend the
deadline as there had been a delay in granting of the right of way for construction, acquiring land and
railway permissions.
Inordinate delays and inflation have swollen the estimated Metro cost from Rs 2,356 crore to Rs 3,893
crore, which may result in fares rising though officials say it would be affordable compared to the
BEST fares. As per the original fare structure agreement, the Metro fare would be 1.5 times BEST's
2005 fare with an 11% increase after every three years. Now that the BEST fares have gone up and
considering the hike in Metro's cost, experts say, the fares would be comparable with the bus tariffs.

From now onwards the trials of metro rail rakes on city's first 12 km route --- Versova-AndheriGhatkopar --- will continue every other day. But Mumbaikars will be able to ride on it only in
September this year and that too only on the 7 km route .
"We are expecting the certification for commercial run of metro from the commissioner of railway
safety (CRS) in September this year. Then by September we hope to run metro rail for commuters on
its first 7-km stretch from Versova to Airport station in Andheri," revealed a senior Mumbai
Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) official.
According to Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) sources the full 12 km ride from Versova to
Ghatkopar will be available for commuters only by December. "This is because finishing work on
nearly five stations of the remaining five km section (from Airport Station in Andheri up to Ghatkopar
station) will require some more time," a source said on the condition of anonymity.

Before the much touted trial of Mumbai's first metro, the date for which was tentatively fixed as May
1, senior officials with metropolitan administration had a nearly three km metro ride from Versova
depot to Azad Nagar station on J P Road on Friday evening. This was probably the first ever trial with
officials aboard after several 'technical dry' runs in the past for electrical and mechanical testing.
Officials with Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), the Veolia
Corporation of France which is supplying the rakes, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (MMRDA) were aboard the train during the trial. These trial runs are
important ahead of the safety certification to the entire via duct and the train operations
MMRDA has already granted the RInfra-led MMOPL another 540 days to finish the Metro work,
pushing the deadline to August 2013 from March 12 onwards. An MMRDA source said they had to
extend the duration as they had been late in granting the right of way (RoW) for construction,
acquiring land and acquiring railway permissions. It may be mentioned that due to inordinate delays
and heavy inflation the estimated cost of the Rs 2356 crore for the metro has reportedly increased to
Rs 3893 crore which may result in increased fare for commuters though officials said would be
competent as compared to the existing BEST fare. As per the original fare structure agreement the
metro fare would be 1.5 times the BEST's 2005 fare with 11 per cent increase after every three years.
Now that BEST's fare has gone up and if considered the hike in metro's cost, experts say, it would be
higher though comparable with existing BEST fare.

You will be under watch inside Mumbai Metro

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Jul 26, 2013, 01.21AM IST

Tags:

Video Transmission Systems|

Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd|
Mumbai metro

MUMBAI: Crimes like spitting in coaches or damaging them will not go unnoticed aboard Mumbai's
first Metro route. An advanced video system, VTSFiretide 7010, will be installed inside VersovaAndheri-Ghatkopar Metro rakes.
This Metro will become India's first to monitor activities inside the coaches. Video systems guard the
country's existing Metros on stations, platforms and routes, but not the nook and corner of coaches.

Crimes such as spitting or damaging metro rail property won't go unnoticed aboard Mumbai's first
metro unlike on its suburban trains. City's upcoming Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro will be the
first in the country to have a video system monitoring even the commuters on board. The existing
metro rails in the country have station areas, platforms and rail routes being guarded by video systems
but not every nook and corner of the coaches.
The initiative by the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), which is executing the project, will
help operating teams ensure safety of women and kids and control crimes such as spitting, illegal
trade, and terror activities. "MMOPL will instal an advanced video transmission system, VTS Firetide
7010, inside the rakes," said an MMOPL release.
This, according to Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), will help the operating teams to ensure
safety of women and children and control crimes such as spitting, illegal trade, and terror activities.
"For the safety and security of commuters, Mumbai Metro One is installing this one of the most
advanced Video Transmission Systems known as VTS Firetide 7010 inside its train," said an MMOPL
release issued here.
The 12-km Metro route is in the final stages of commissioning and commuters may even get to use a 7km section between Versova and Andheri airport station from September. Integration and testing of
various systems, signaling and communications are in progress; besides safety certification by the
railway authorities is being processed.
The system, said officials, will be connected with the central control room (CCR), which will be
monitored by Metro officials.
The 12 km metro route is in the final stages of commissioning and commuters may even get to use its 7
km section between Versova and Andheri airport station from September. Integration and testing of
various systems, signaling and communications are currently in progress besides safety certification

byt the railway authorities. The system, said officials, would be connected with central control room
(CCR) which would be continuously monitored by the Metro officials.
"Officials will be able to track every movement inside the train on real-time basis and can record them
for future or immediate actions," said an MMOPL official. "VTS will assist in cracking down on antisocial activities like pick-pocketing or those indulging in any ruckus even if they take place in the
compartment's remotest corners," said an official. In line with the provisions under the prevailing
statute, the offenders will then be duly fined or punished in case of any such incidents.
"When the train is on the move, Metro officials will be able to track every suspicious movement
happening inside the train on real time basis and can record them for future or immediate actions,"
said an MMOPL official. "VTS will further assist in nabbing anti - social activities like pick pocketing,
those indulging in any ruckus or showing rowdy behaviour even in the remote places in the
compartment," an official said. In line with the provisions under the prevailing statute, the offenders
will then be duly fined or punished in case of any such incidents.

VTS will also enhance the capacity to alert operational teams , including metro pilots, during
emergencies like fire, bad climatic conditions, terror attacks, etc. MMOPL will commence the safety
system tests, including VTS, during the trials of signaling and communications.
The system would also enhance alerting the operational teams, including metro pilots at the time of
life threatening emergencies, such as fire, bad climatic conditions, terror attacks, etc so as to enable
quickest actions during exigencies. MMOPL is commencing all safety system tests including VTS
during the trials of signaling and communications.
A surveillance camera and radio sets inside the motorman's cabin will send signals to the CCR through
fiber optic cables. "A live telecast of the situation will be displayed on screens at the CCR and inside
the train," said an official.
The surveillance camera and the radio sets inside the motorman's cabin will send signals to CCR
through the fiber optic cables. "A live telecast of the situation on big screens in CCR and also inside the
train will enhance control over the malicious acts by the commuters mishandling the Metro property;
eg. mishandling the door while the train is on move," said an MMOPL official.
In such a situation the security team of MMOPL will be alerted and will thus be in a better position to
take timely and necessary measures. "It is but obvious that the fellow passengers might fail to notice
such incidences; but the VTS would be ensuring their reporting to avoid re-occurrences," said another
official.

Broken promise: Mr CM, metro won't roll in September

Clara Lewis, TNN Aug 16, 2013, 03.52AM IST

Tags:

Western Express Highway|

Prithviraj Chavan|
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|
Metro rail

MUMBAI: Mumbaikars' long wait for the first phase of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro rail is
far from over. Chief minister PrithvirajChavan won't be able to keep his promise of commissioning it
next month. It has now been deferred to December.
This is one of several infrastructure projects that keep getting delayed in the city.
Sahar Elevated Road, connecting Western Express Highway to the new airport terminal, was to be
ready by May. It has been deferred to December. Work on the project began over three years ago.

The worst of the delays is that of Santa Cruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR), announced way back in
2003. It was to be ready by October this year. The new date is March 2014.
Chavan has been promising that infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,000 crore will be commissioned by
the year-end. Repeated delays in commissioning the metro had led Chavan to promise that it would be
done in phases. The first phase between Versova and the international airport was to be
commissioned in September.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority commissioner U P S Madan said metro cannot
be commissioned unless the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) gives the nod. "Inspections and
trial runs are on but certificates may take a while.'' MMRDA, which is executing the project with
MMOPL, said the deadline may be shifted to December.
Sources said the interiors are still to be completed. "How can the CRS be expected to give a nod when
the work itself is not complete?'' asked an MMRDA official.
On Sahar Elevated Road, Madan said, "The road leads directly to the terminal and both are being
completed. The underpass for the elevated road is to be completed. Since the road ends at the
terminal, it is a happy coincidence that both will be ready in December.''
The need for SCLR is even more pronounced as the shift of business districts to Bandra, Andheri and
Malad has seen a spike in east-west travel for work. Madan said SCLR was delayed as the heavy
monsoon led the railways to refuse to allow piers to be set up across railway tracks.

Broken promise: Mr CM, metro won't roll in September

Clara Lewis, TNN Aug 16, 2013, 03.52AM IST

Tags:

Western Express Highway|

Prithviraj Chavan|
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority|
Metro rail

MUMBAI: Mumbaikars' long wait for the first phase of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro rail is
far from over. Chief minister PrithvirajChavan won't be able to keep his promise of commissioning it
next month. It has now been deferred to December.
This is one of several infrastructure projects that keep getting delayed in the city.
Sahar Elevated Road, connecting Western Express Highway to the new airport terminal, was to be
ready by May. It has been deferred to December. Work on the project began over three years ago.

The worst of the delays is that of Santa Cruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR), announced way back in
2003. It was to be ready by October this year. The new date is March 2014.
Chavan has been promising that infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,000 crore will be commissioned by
the year-end. Repeated delays in commissioning the metro had led Chavan to promise that it would be
done in phases. The first phase between Versova and the international airport was to be
commissioned in September.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority commissioner U P S Madan said metro cannot
be commissioned unless the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) gives the nod. "Inspections and
trial runs are on but certificates may take a while.'' MMRDA, which is executing the project with
MMOPL, said the deadline may be shifted to December.
Sources said the interiors are still to be completed. "How can the CRS be expected to give a nod when
the work itself is not complete?'' asked an MMRDA official.
On Sahar Elevated Road, Madan said, "The road leads directly to the terminal and both are being
completed. The underpass for the elevated road is to be completed. Since the road ends at the
terminal, it is a happy coincidence that both will be ready in December.''
The need for SCLR is even more pronounced as the shift of business districts to Bandra, Andheri and
Malad has seen a spike in east-west travel for work. Madan said SCLR was delayed as the heavy
monsoon led the railways to refuse to allow piers to be set up across railway tracks.

Nod for electrics clears path for new Metro trials

Manthan K Mehta, TNN Oct 25, 2013, 06.52AM IST

Tags:

the section|
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd|
MMOPL|
Metro trials

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) will soon undertake trials on the
section between the airport road station and Ghatkopar as it has received approval for its electrical
system from a central statutory authority.
Till now the trial runs of the rolling stock and other technical tests were conducted only from Versova
to airport road.

"We have got EIG [electrical inspector to government] certification for the entire Versova to
Ghatkopar route," a senior MMOPL official said. "Soon the trial runs of Mumbai Metro One will
extend from airport road station to Ghatkopar. We will soon initialize the other technical testing for
operations on the VAG [Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar] line."
EIG is a statutory authority appointed by the ministry of power to certify and approve electrical
systems for a project.
The MMOP can now energize and test the overhead equipment on the entire VAG stretch.
"The EIG nod means the electrical system has been commissioned, successfully tested and approved
for making the line live to commence operations," the MMOPL official said.

Lax state fails to notify Act, may delay Metro-I

Clara Lewis, TNN Oct 28, 2013, 06.50AM IST

Tags:

Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro|
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd|
MMRDA|
Metro Railways

MUMBAI: The state government's failure to notify the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro under the
Metro Railways (Operations & Maintenance) Act 2002, may delay the commissioning of the project.
The state has promised that the entire 11.4-km route will be commissioned by Decemberend . But the
Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) is constantly maintaining that it will commission the project
this fiscal ; it is not committing to the December deadline.

In 2004, the urban development department had issued a government resolution for implementation
of a tramway/ mass rapid transport system in the VAG Metro project through public-private
participation and appointed MMRDA as the implementing agency. In 2007, the state had authorized
the construction and maintenance of the project under the Tramways Act, 1886. But in 2009, the
Centre, through a gazette notification , extended the Metro Act to all other metropolitan cities,
including the MMR.
MMOPL sources said since March 2010, they have been writing to the MMRDA for clarity as to which
Act is now applicable to the project. "Without this, no approvals can be obtained. Without an Act, the
functioning of the concessionaire is illegal, and if this issue is not clarified soon it will delay the
project," said a source.
Sources said that owing to the lack of clarity, MMOPL can't invite the Research and Design Standard
Operations (RDSO) to inspect the Metro for safety features. "Unless the RDSO passes its remarks, the
commissioner of metro railway safety inspect and certify it for operation," said a source.
In August, MMOPL had written to the MMRDA saying that it would not be responsible for any delay
in "achieving the commercial operations date due to non-resolution of the issue by the MMRDA" . It
also said the MMRDA will have to pay compensation for the "time and cost implication arising from
the issue" . Sources said MMOPL has been pushing for the shift as it wants the state to change the fare
structure and pay for the cost escalation.
But MMRDA chief U P S Madan said, "The Metro will become operational by December-end . The
RDSO has given approval to a number of safety features ." The delay in notifying the project under the
Metro Act was because the state has been studying the legal implications of the shift on the concession
agreement, he said, adding that one of the key issues were changes in the fare structure. "The fare
structure has now been notified, but there are other issues. We don't want the agreement to be

superseded by the Metro Act. These should soon be resolved and we shall notify the project under the
Act." On cost escalation, Madan said it would be sorted out after the Metro was commissioned.
Fine print issues
In 2006, PM Manmohan Singh had inaugurated the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro. In 2007, the
project was passed under the Tramways Act, 1886, as then there was no Act to deal with Metros. In
2009, the Centre by a gazette notification extended the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance
Act) 2002, to all metropolitan cities, including MMR.
The 11.4-km VAG Metro has missed several deadlines since December 2010 till last month. Both the
MMRDA and the state insist that it will be commissioned in December 2013, but MMOPL is not
committing itself to this date; it said that the VAG will be completed this fiscal MMOPL said that as
the project has not been notified under the Metro Acts, it cannot invite the Research Design and
Standards Organisation to carry out inspections. Unless the inspection is done the commissioner for
metro railway safety cannot issue a certificate, without which the Metro cannot be commissioned
MMRDA says that the delay in shifting from the Tramways Act to the Metro Act is because the state
government has been closely studying the legal implications on the concession agreement, especially
the fare structure.