Centre approves formation of new SPV for Mumbai Metro projects

New Delhi (Urban Transport News): The Central Government has approved the formation of a new special purpose vehicle (SPV) to carry out the “business and operation” of the upcoming 13 Metro corridors under Mumbai Metro projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The name of the body will be Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL). Approval to establish new body was received on on June 10. Now the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is finalising a logo for the proposed company, which will operate from Bandra-Kurla Complex office of the MMRDA.

The Concept

The idea is to integrate the operations and maintenance of all Metro corridors under one authority was introduced in last year by the Maharashtra Government. The Maharashtra Chief Minister has also written a letter to the Central Government to bring Metro-3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) under the ambit of new body, once the construction of the underground line is completed. The line is presently being executed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited which is already set up as SPV with the equal shareholding between the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra.

Operation

Sources said the Mumbai Monorail will also be operated by the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL). Last year in November, in a meeting chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, cabinet approved the establishment of the new company. The new company will work as an autonomous body under the chairmanship of the metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA.

Administration

The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited will be led by a managing director, an IAS officer, just like other public-run companies under the Maharashtra State Government. The MMMOCL will be run using the ticketing and non-ticketing revenue earned from all Metro corridors of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Metropolitan Authority will also build a centralised operation and control centre  (COCC) in Metro Bhavan for all lines in Aarey.

Recruitment

The Mumbai Metro Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has called for applications to fill up 1100 posts in the new proposed company. Explaining on the new development, Dilip Kawathkar, joint projects director of MMRDA, said-

We have invited applications by June 25. The company will be set up under MMRDA and undertake all Metro operations.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Maharashtra government has set a road map for the 13 metro corridors in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Out of these, 6 corridors are currently under-construction in the City. Two of these corridors Metro-2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar) and Metro-7 (Andheri East-Dahisar East) is expected to start commercial operations by the end of 2020.