MMRDA to commence trial run on Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7 in July 2020

Mumbai (Urban Transport News): The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has recently shared an information that work on both upcoming metro networks in the western suburbs (Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7) is around 70% complete and trial runs are expected to start in July 2020. Talking about commencement of trial run on the both corridors, MMRDA commissioner RA Rajeev said,

There has been a delay of three to four months but it is not major, as we had already announced that services would start in 2020. Such a delay was expected on a project of this scale, which is being executed under so many constraints.

The Authority had expected that the civil work would be completed by mid-2019 and trial runs would commence by November or December 2019. “We had never said the rakes would come in by November. The order for rakes was placed in November 2018 and it takes almost 18 months for the first rake to be delivered”, he added. Recently, MMRDA has awarded the Rolling contract to BEML Limited to deliver rakes for Metro 7 and Metro 2A. The first train is expected to arrive in July 2020. The Maharashtra government had set the deadline to complete the project before the end of the 2019.

Project progress as on date

Metro Line 2A

• Out of 712, 596 piers completed on Metro Line 2A.
• 60% civil structural work of stations completed.
• Track work at Charkop depot started, traick laying work on viaduct will be started from September.
• Out of 18.5 km, 14 km viaduct work completed.
• Overall progress - 67%

Metro Line 7

• Out of 724, 595 piers completed on Metro Line 7.
• 60% civil structural work of stations completed.
• Track work has started, rail welding in progress.
• Out of 16.5 km, 9.5 km viaduct work completed.
• Overall progress - 70%

Denying the MMRDA's claim on project progeress, civic activist Dolphy D’Souza said,

We cannot take the MMRDA at face value when they claim so much progress in civil work. There is huge improvement in execution of work when compared with-Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro project. But a third-party audit needs to be done to ascertain the quantum of work and the causes for delay.

Citing issues with cutting of trees and delay in handing over of land by the house societies, Rajeev said,

There are 19 agencies around which work has to be executed. There were unexpected issues due to shifting of utilities. The utilities laid in along this corridor are not mapped.

The MMRDA official said that work on Metro 7 (Dahisar to Andheri via Western Express Highway) is 68% completed and Metro 2A (Dahisar to D N Nagar via Link Road) is 70% done.