MMRDA resumes construction work on nine corridors of Mumbai Metro

Mumbai, India (Urban Transport News): Following the recent guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the resumption of construction works on various major infrastructure projects in India, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gave conditional permission to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for work to resume on construction projects.

The MMRDA has resumed regular construction work on all Metro corridors of the Mumbai Metro Rail project from Monday after lying suspended for nearly one month due to the nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. "Due to the current COVID19 pandemic, the Metro work had halted, however, with extreme precautions, MMRDA has resumed construction of the Metro Project. We are ready to do our part in ensuring an amazing experience to Mumbaikars, But we need you all to play your part in the Fight Against Corona," tweeted MMRDA.

Due to the current #COVID19 pandemic the Metro work had halted, however, with extreme precautions, MMRDA has resumed construction of the Metro Project. pic.twitter.com/h3a1QFIr9w

— MMRDA (@MMRDAOfficial) April 20, 2020

An MMRDA spokesperson said the work on all Metro corridors has either started or is in the process of starting. MMRDA is ensuring that adequate social distancing is maintained and the workers are given masks and sanitizers. As per the guidelines issued by the BMC, construction work cannot be carried out in containment zones identified by the Maharashtra government and no workers can be brought in from outside the city. MMRDA officials informed that about 11,000 workers who are associated with various metro projects continue to stay in camps and are provided for.

A senior official said that most of the worksites are on arterial roads like the Western Express Highway (WEH) and Link Road, which are not yet within containment zones. According to MMRDA, a total of nine metro corridors are at different stages of construction in Mumbai and adjoining regions. The timelines of all metro projects are bound to be affected due to the suspension of work, and they are in the process of determining the extent of the delay. The commissioning schedule of Metro 2A and Metro 7 has been deferred due to countrywide lockdown and now expected to be completed by December this year. MMRDA is expecting to open Line 7 for the public by early 2021.