Stuff I wrote for my college campus newspaper - 12

Underground Metro in Mumbai – Reality; no more a dream

Compiled By Sanket ‘can go underground’ Kambli

Transportation in Mumbai is a huge problem, especially due to the geography of our city. The city's system is reported to be modeled after the London transportation system with the exception of the Underground Metro. Mumbai's lack of a subway system has been severely detrimental to the commuters due to the congestion that is experienced. Not only was the Mumbai transportation system modeled after the London system, it was pretty much developed in union with it. As London developed a system, Mumbai would receive it approximately five years later. Tram service in Mumbai began in 1870. It remained until the 1950s when people felt that the trams were becoming obsolete even though their passenger carrying capacity was 50% greater than buses; they were more energy efficient, cleaner and could be easily modernized. But, unfortunately the government did a study and ruled that buses would be more effective. The last tram ran in 1964. This was perhaps the first blow to transportation development in Mumbai. The second came in 1974 with the abolition of the trolley bus. The trolley bus was much like a bus, but it ran on electricity, was quiet and was able to follow routes that the large diesel buses could not run on. After the termination of these two systems, transportation development has been extremely difficult in Mumbai. So to revamp the transportation system of our city and ease the congestion, the process to build Mumbai Metro has begun. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been reported to have cleared the project and the Mumbai Metropolitan and Region Development Authority (MMRDA) have begun inviting bids. Once the bidder is selected, in the coming months, work will begin on the first phase. Phase I of the Mumbai Metro includes three corridors: Colaba-Charkop (38.24 km), Versova-Ghatkopar (11.56 km) and Bandra-Mankhurd (12.8 km). It is estimated to take the MMRDA approximately eight years to complete this phase. The master plan comprises six other corridors: Charkop-Dahisar (7.5 km), Ghatkopar-Mulund (12.4 km), Bandra-Kurla Complex-Kanjur Marg via airport (19.5 km), Andheri (East)-Dahisar (East) (18 km), Hutatama Chowk-Ghatkopar (21.8 km), Sewri-Prabhadevi (3.5 km). Dr T Chandrashekhar, additional metropolitan commissioner and project director of Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)—Metro Rail falls under this city improvement plan—said they decided to begin work on this line to ease traffic on the east-west corridor. ‘‘Plus, because all stations on this route will be elevated, it will be easier,’’ said Chandrashekhar. ‘‘If all goes well, work should start by the end of the year.’’ The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will act as a consultant to MMRDA and the Metro will be constructed—at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore—on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. Once work starts, bids will also be invited for the 38.24-km Colaba-Mahim-Charkop line, the largest corridor in the project. ‘‘The state and Central Government will be equity share holders with 26 per cent equity in the project,’’ said Chandrashekhar. ‘‘It will take around 15 years to execute the entire plan (see box),’’ he added. Chandrashekhar also explained that roads were being widened across the city to accommodate the Metro. The elevated rail will require approximately 11-metre-high pillars, which will be constructed on the 2-metre wide central dividers. ‘‘For this,’’ said Chandrashekhar, ‘‘the road should have a width of 45 meters so that vehicular traffic is not affected.’’ The underground lines will be built using micro-tunneling—workers will burrow their way underground through tunnels and the surface of the roads will not be dug. Chandrashekhar also clarified that traveling on the Metro won’t be an expensive affair. The project, he said, aimed at easing congestion in trains and buses.’ So, it’s obvious that prices will be almost the same,’’ he said. ‘‘It could be somewhat marginally higher but not unaffordable.’’ And all that we can do is waiting.

Factual information courtesy- http://www.macalester.edu , umaupadhyaya@expressindia.com