The construction of the first phase of the project in the satellite city is expected to start after the monsoons
The construction of the first phase of the project in the satellite city is expected to start after the monsoonsConstruction of the much-awaited Navi Mumbai Metro Rail Project is expected to begin in the next two months. The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO), the nodal agency for the project, has awarded the contract of the first phase of the project to the private firm J Kumar and Nagarjun Construction Company.
The corridor will be built in two phases. In the first phase, the metro line will be built from Belapur to Pendhar and in the second phase, from Pendhar to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport. NS Pitale, Additional Chief Engineer of Metro Rail Project, CIDCO said, "The constructionu00a0 work of phase one is expected to begin immediately after the monsoons. The consortium and our department (Metro Department) have finalised the locations of the stations on the route."u00a0
The 11.1 km Belapur-Pendhar elevated stretch will be built on about 140 pillars. It will have nine stations, all of which will be elevated. According to the plan, metro services will be available for people by 2014. "The consortium has been given a deadline of December 2012 to complete the civil work for the Belapur-Pendhar route, after which technical work can begin. It's important to meet the civil work deadline to begin the metro service by 2014," said Pitale.
According to sources, the consortium bagged the civil work contract for the Belapur-Pendhar phase for Rs 370 crore. The second phase of the metro, from Pendhar to Navi Mumbai Airport, will be around 3.5km. "The feasibility study of the second phase of the Belapur-International Airport metro corridor is underway. Bothu00a0 routes will be connected after completion of the second phase," said Pitale. "CIDCO had earlier identified six corridors for the Metro Rail Project in Navi Mumbai. Five of the six projects have been kept on the backburner on grounds that not enough people may utilise these corridors," he added.
