SVR Srinivas, a 1991 batch IAS officer, who presently holds the position of Metropolitan Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) comes with more than 20 years of experience in Urban Infrastructure. He chaired & coordinated multidisciplinary teams engaged in Urban Transport, Metro Railways & Urban Planning.
In a recent interaction with Urban Transport News (Urban Infra Communication), Srinivas shared his thought on the need for urban transportation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and his priorities to decongest traffic issues in the region. Here are excerpts:-
It is teamwork. The system will stabilize in a month. Our next priorities are to complete Phase II of Line 2A & 7 so that it will connect to existing Line 1 at D. N. Nagar and WEH respectively and people can travel through the complete loop. To achieve this target following work has to be done on priority.
Completion of all civil works for remaining stations of Line 2A & 7 including Entry-Exit structures. Completion of OHE wiring works, Signalling works, and all System works at stations. Completion of all balance work of Phase II for safety certificate from CMRS to commissioning the phase II by next five to six months.
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is already developing a facility to receive the First train and undertake tests. Depot is the most – pressing issue.
The State govt. is exploring the possibility of an amicable/workable alternative solution for Depot which will soon be finalized that will facilitate early commissioning.
MMRC is already developing a facility to receive the First train and undertake tests.
The State govt is ceased the Metro 3 Depot issue. An amicable/workable alternative solution for Depot will soon be finalised that will facilitate early commissioning.
Presently, Phase-II of Metro Line 2A & 7, Line 2B (D. N. Nagar-Mandale), Line 3, Line 4 & 4A (Wadala-Kasarvadavali-Gaimukh), Line 5 (Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan), Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar-Vikhroli), Line 9 & 7A (Dahisar (E)-Mira Bhayander & Andheri (E)-CSMIA) is under various stages of implementation.
Work started on Metro line 10 & line 12 by inviting tenders for the appointment of a General consultant.
DPR is under update by DMRC for faster metro connectivity between Mumbai & Navi Mumbai International airport i.e. Line 8(Airport Metro – CSMIA to NMIA) and Line 13 (Shivaji Chowk (Mira Road) to Virar). Also, the draft DPR was received from Milan Metro for Metro Line 14.
With the addition, the total length of Metro Corridors will be 337 km and the aim is to complete most of these corridors by 2024-26.
We have a resource mobilization strategy in place now. Civil works of the Metro project are being funded by MMRDA. Funding for the System works was proposed to External funding agencies. This led to substantial savings in time & money by the state.
Typically for external funding of the projects the route followed is - MMRDA Proposes to GoM, which through MoUD proposes to DEA for external agency funding. In addition, we are also exploring the possibility of raising resources by borrowing from domestic markets.
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