Can metro change Navi Mumbai’s future?

A train makes its way from Belapur to Pendhar after the inauguration of Navi Mumbai Metro on Friday. Pics/Anurag Ahire

The smallest Metro train in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, comprising three coaches, began operations at 3 pm on Friday to the relief of lakhs of Navi Mumbaikars, who had been waiting for it for over a decade. "The three coaches will be insufficient later. But the good news is that the Metro has finally started. We have only seen the pillars standing for so long," Belapur resident K R Iyer said.

Navi Mumbai resident Arindam Mahapatra said, "In the end, it was worth the wait. The new Metro will not only cut down my travel expenses, it will also be beneficial for those who want to travel in comfort without having to face autorickshaw refusal at night. My main request to CIDCO [City and Industrial Development Corporation] would be to put in place the return ticket facility at all stations as currently only Belapur Terminal has it."

A train makes its way from Belapur to Pendhar after the inauguration of the long-awaited Navi Mumbai Metro on Friday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

‘Project was much-needed'

Commuter Jigar Desai said that it was a very exciting day and he had made it a point to make the first-day journey the moment he read about it. "The Navi Mumbai Metro was much-needed public transport infrastructure," he said.

"With large nodes with mass housing developing in the nodes of Kharghar, Taloja and Pendhar and heavy dependency on buses, the resumption of Metro services comes as a relief," Rajkamal Bhattacharya, another resident, said.

Elated citizens at Belapur Terminal in Navi Mumbai on the day of the inauguration. Pic/Arindam Mahapatra

"The nodes have developed very fast, but there has been no development in terms of transport, and the huge dependency on roads will now ease a bit. Residents will now be linked with Central Railway's trans-harbour line," Ravindra Vaity, another commuter, said.

Metro facts

Eight trains with three coaches will be operational between Pendhar to Belapur Terminal. From November 18, the first service between Pendhar and Belapur Terminal and from the latter destination to the former will be at 6 am, while the last will be at 10 pm. The frequency of trains is 15 minutes. The fares are Rs 10 for 0-2 km, Rs 15 for 2-4 km, Rs 20 for 4-6 km, Rs 25 for 6-8 km, Rs 30 for 8-10km and Rs 40 for distances beyond 10 km.

Arindam Mahapatra, Navi Mumbai resident

There was also a political slugfest due to the delay in opening the public project.

Clyde Crasto, national spokesperson, NCP, told mid-day, "This government is only concerned about their publicity and gaining mileage for themselves. They do not care about the convenience of the common people. The ease of commute and convenience of Navi Mumbaikars have been stolen and delayed by this government for six months for their selfish gains. This attitude of the BJP-led Maharashtra government only proves that they are publicity hungry and anti-people."

ExpertSpeak

Jitendra Gupta of Mumbai Mobility Forum said, "Being the first phase, this section of Navi Mumbai Metro is just 11.9 km and it will not help the main Navi Mumbai city as yet, apart from the nodes of Kharghar and Taloja. It will not be of much help to those who are at Panvel. The future phases will be of help
and importance."

Contractor not penalised?

RTI activist Anil Galgali has claimed based on information provided by CIDCO that there has been a R291 crore preliminary increase in the cost of Navi Mumbai Metro due to delays and the contractor has not been levied any penalty.

"The estimated cost of Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 was Rs 3,063.63 crore. According to the documents that I have been given, the total amount is Rs 3,354 crore. The line was disrupted by transmission towers and cables. It received permission from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation late. Since the line intersects the Sion-Panvel highway near Belapur, there was a delay in obtaining permission from the public works department, as well as the National Highways, Railway Board and Highway Police Department," he said.

According to Galgali, such projects have suffered due to a lack of proper planning. "The contractors who have cheated CIDCO should be blacklisted and fined," he added.

CIDCO officials were unavailable for comment by press time.

15 minutes
Frequency of services

11.9 km
Length of the line