PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of three metro lines in Mumbai

Mumbai (Urban Transport News): The Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of three metro lines in Mumbai, in line with the vision of Mumbai in Minutes. The projects will provide a boost to the metro infrastructure of the city and will contribute to a safer, faster and better commute for every Mumbaikar. Speaking on the undying resolve of ISRO and its team of scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said,

There are three types of people who strive to attain goals: those who do not even start due to fear of failure, those who start but run away on facing challenges and those who strive continuously despite big challenges. ISRO and those associated with it belong to the third category; they do not stop or get tired or pause before the mission is attained. Though we have faced a challenge in Mission Chandrayaan 2, ISRO’s scientists will not stop until the goal is realized. The goal of conquering the moon will definitely be achieved. It is a historic achievement that the Orbiter has been placed successfully in the lunar orbit.

Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore already invested

Prime Minister Modi said that projects worth Rs 20,000 crore have been initiated in Mumbai today, while Rs 1,50,000 crore have already been invested in Mumbai Metro Rail project. He said that new metro lines, Metro Bhavan and new facilities at metro stations will give a new dimension to Mumbai and make life easier for Mumbaikars.

The connection between Bandra and expressway will make life easier for professionals. With these projects, Mumbai can be reached in minutes.

Maharashtra's initiative for the change

Prime Minister complimented the Maharashtra government for the changes being brought about in the field of infrastructure.

As India proceeds towards the goal of becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy, our cities too should become cities of the 21st century. In line with this goal, the Government is spending Rs 100 lakh in the next five years on building modern infrastructure, which will benefit Mumbai and many other cities.

He highlighted the importance of future-ready infrastructure and noted that connectivity, productivity, sustainability, and safety need to be considered while developing cities.

Mumbai Metro Vision Document

To make public transport easier, the Government is striving to build integrated transport systems in the country. A vision document of Mumbai Metro has been released to provide better infrastructure for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The vision document explains how to make the best use of various modes of public transport, such as Mumbai local, bus system. A master plan for Mumbai Metro rail network has been made in this regard. Informing people about the expansion plan for Mumbai Metro, the Prime Minister said,

From 11 km today, the metro network of the city will increase to 325 km by 2023-24. The capacity of the metro will become as much as that of the volume of people carried by Mumbai local today. The coaches which run on the metro lines will also be manufactured in India.

Employment generation

The Prime Minister stated that 10,000 engineers and 40,000 skilled and unskilled workers will get job opportunities due to the metro projects. Citing the examples of Navi Mumbai airport, Mumbai Trans Harbour terminal, and bullet train project, the Prime Minister said that the scale and speed with which projects are being executed today is unprecedented. Reflecting on the fast expansion of the metro system in India, the Prime Minister said that metro was present in only a few cities until recently, while today a metro is present or is being launched in the near future in 27 cities.

675 km of metro lines are operational today, out of which around 400 km became functional in the last five years; work is in progress on 850 km, while approval has been given for work on 600 km of metro lines.

He said that efforts are being made to develop India’s infrastructure in a holistic way, in order to fast-track development.

Projects in Brief

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for three new metro lines, which will together add more than 42 km to the metro network of Mumbai Metro in the city. The three corridors are 9.2 km long Gaimukh - Shivaji Chowk/Mira Road (Mumbai Metro-10) corridor, 12.7 km long Wadala - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai Metro-11) corridor and 20.7 km long Kalyan - Taloja (Mumbai Metro-12) corridor.

Metro Bhawan & Operations Control Centre

Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Metro Bhavan, a 32-story center will operate and control 14 metro lines measuring around 340 km.

Mumbai Metro Mock Coach

The Prime Minister inaugurated Bandongri Metro Station, Kandivali East. He also inaugurated a state-of-the-art metro coach (mock), the first metro coach manufactured by BEML Limited under 'Make in India' initiative. The PM released a Brand Vision Document for Maha Mumbai Metro.  

Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Railways and Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale were also present on the occasion.