MMRDA appoints General Consultants for Mumbai Metro Line 5 and 9

Mumbai (Urban Transport News): In a major boost to speed up Mumbai metro rail projects in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has approved appointment of General Consultant for the Mumbai Metro Line 5 and Line-9. The Executive Committee of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), headed by Ajoy Mehta, Chairman, Executive Committee, MMRDA and Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, has recommended appointment of consortium of M/s. Systra (France), M/s. Consulting Engineers Group Ltd. and M/s. Systra MVA Consulting (India) Pvt. Ltd. as General Consultants for the construction of civil work on the Kalyan-Bhiwandi (Mumbai Metro-5) stretch and Dahisar-East to Mira Bhayendar and Andheri-East to CSMIA (Mumbai Metro-9) corridor.

The Committee also appointed M/s. AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd. to partly design and construct the elevated viaduct – including the viaduct to integrate with Mumbai Metro-4 and Mumbai Metro-5 and seven elevated stations, namely, Dhamankar Naka, Anjur Phata, Purna, Kalher, Kasheli, Balkum Naka and Kapurbawdi on the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro-5 corridor. The 262nd meeting of the Executive Committee clearly indicated their intent to develop Metro rail network in the city and its Metropolitan Region and develop it fast by their decisions as another approval also related to Metro Bhavan and the very crucial Operation Control Center (OCC), for which it was decided to appoint M/s. Epicons Consultant Pvt. Ltd. as the Project Management Consultants. Commenting on the appointments, R.A. Rajeev, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, said.

Yes, all major decisions revolved around the development of Metro network. Developing a Metro line or two isn’t the exact need of the hour. Considering the traffic chaos, downgrading air quality and endangering environment, what we need is a “Total Connectivity” which will induce car owners to take to the public transport and hence our focus is to develop all Metro lines.

Earlier to the meeting, the German bank KfW has conducted assessment of the Mumbai metro rail projects and has shown their interest to provide funding assistance to MMRDA.