MUMBAI: The state government has not yet given up hopes of building a metro corridor along the 36-km long coastal road along the western coast in Mumbai.
On Saturday, the state government, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, will hear out a Dutch review of Mumbai’s infrastructure plans, specifically the coastal road from Kandivli to Nariman Point. At a seminar organised by a Netherlands delegation along with Mumbai First, an organisation of Mumbai Inc, Dutch experts will make a presentation on the option to integrate and optimise the Mumbai metro and the coastal road. The seminar will be attended by Netherlands prime minister Mark Rutte and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
This year, the chief minister’s office had considered building a metro corridor ‘at grade’ the eightlane coastal road as it would have been the cheapest option for building a mass transit facility in the city. The cost of building a metro running along the coastal road would have worked out to Rs70 crore per km. In comparison, the cost of an elevated metro corridor would be Rs220 crore per km and that of an underground metro would be Rs800 crore per km.
“The option is still open as it is cost-effective. However, we still have to check its viability in terms of demand and ridership along the route. We would like the Dutch experts to give us a view and explore the option of a study after this seminar,’’ said a senior state government official. The existing detailed project report of the coastal road does not include a metro corridor, but has two dedicated lanes for a bus rapid transit system.
The state government is keen on getting advice from the Dutch as nearly three-fourths of the Netherlands stands on reclaimed land.
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