Saki Naka bottleneck for Metro teamAshley D'Mello, TNNSep 10, 2007, 04.37am IST

MUMBAI: Yet another infrastructure project could be running into trouble. The management of Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the company building a 12-km metro line from Versova to Ghatkopar, has warned that the Rs 2,356-crore project could be delayed unless the government helped them acquire land for a train depot and cleared the way for construction along the corridor.Director of MMOPL, Krishna Maheshwari, told TOI that the train depot land measuring 32 acres at D N Nagar was still to be acquired and parts of the proposed corridor near Andheri station and at Saki Naka and Asalpha were still not clear of encroachments. "We are ready to start within a month's time, but need the land and the clear corridor," he said.

MMOPL is undertaking the construction of the first line of the metro and has been granted five years beginning May 2007 by the state to complete the project. The crucial job of clearing encroachments and providing other logistical support is with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).MMOPL is the first public-private partnership initiative for a metro project in India. It is a firm formed by Reliance Energy Ltd, Veolia Transport, France and the MMRDA.Maheshwari said, "Studies and surveys for the VAG (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) corridor have already been completed in the first half of this year. The tender documents for major supplies and contracts for civil works and rolling stocks have been submitted by shortlisted bidders.Tenders for the other components like signaling and power supply are expected in a month's time. We need to have the land for the depot and casting yard at D N Nagar. Since we want to move at a fast pace, we are having two casting yards for the construction work one at Wadala and the other at D N Nagar."MMRDA joint project director, Dilip Kawathkar admitted that there had been problems in getting the corridor cleared but said the acquisition proceedings for the land at D N Nagar were under way and would be completed shortly. "The VAG corridor from Versova to Andheri is clear, we are tackling the problems at Saki Naka and Asalpha,'' he said.The MMRDA especially faced problems when trying to acquire land near Andheri station: it faced a barrage of protests from residents and shopkeepers who wanted alternate accommodation nearby. The BJP had joined the protest stating that the government was acquiring land in a high-handed manner without a proper alternate housing plan.After meetings with project-affected groups, the MMRDA undertook to house them in a large shopping complex near Andheri station. Now, they will have to try some strong persuasion at Saki Naka and Asalpha too.

Mumbai Metro rig crushes man in autoTNNMay 15, 2008, 03.21am IST

MUMBAI: A 60-tonne piling rig which was being used in the ambitious Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar elevated corridor project of Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) toppled over at Andheri (W) on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring another. The rig crashed into the compound wall of A H Wadia High School on J P Road. A passing autorickshaw was also crushed and a hydraulic crane had to be summoned to extract the debris.Andheri resident Vijay Kumar (50) was travelling in the auto and was killed when the rig smashed into the vehicle's passenger seat. Police officials said his body was mangled beyond recognition. The auto driver, Vinod Singh, sustained injuries to his chest and mouth.

Only moments before the mishap occurred at 10.30 am, a double-decker bus filled with passengers had gone by. The school compound, where the rig crashed, was also empty since it's vacation time.MMOPL has contracted Simplex for the project. "In my entire career, I have never witnessed a mishap of this nature," said deputy manager of Simplex A Murlikrishnan. "It could either be due to poor compaction (soil suffering from excessive water run-off due to power aeration) or to a fault in the machine's working. These are complicated machines."

First metro line hits a roadblock in AndheriChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNAug 29, 2008, 06.09am IST

MUMBAI: Work on the city's first Metro rail corridor between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri has once again hit a hurdle. Work on the project began in January after a delay of two years.This time around, the Western Railway (WR) has asked the Reliance Energy-led implementing agency, the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), to wait for a final clearance for the proposed line that is to be constructed above existing WR tracks near Andheri station. WR has stated that it will decide on the MMOPL proposal only after receiving the feasibility report on its proposed elevated corridor between Churchgate and Virar.

C P Sharma, WR DRM, said, "The feasibility study for the elevated corridor project will take about six months (to be completed ). The process of appointing the consultancy is underway.'' According to Sharma, the laying of the Metro rail track above the existing WR tracks could hamper the proposed elevated track. "Hence, it is better to wait,'' he said.Interestingly, the WR had earlier given an in-principal nod to this metro corridor, which is nearly one-km long and falls between SV Road on the western-end of the Andheri station and the Agarkar Chowk towards the eastern end of the Andheri station.Senior Reliance Energy officials said the general agreement drawings of the Metro have been with the WR for the last 10 months. "They are asking us to either go underground or seven metres above their proposed elevated track (that is, nearly 14 metres above the ground). Changing drawings and alignments at this stage may delay the project by a year,'' source said.Meanwhile, MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad was confident that the row will be resolved amicably. "The WR had in-principal given its nod to the project.''

Mumbai Metro raises Rs 1,200 cr loan for the projectTNNOct 6, 2008, 02.06am IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure of Reliance ADA Group, France's Veolia Transport and the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), on Saturday signed the agreement to raise a Rs 1,194 crore loan. Work on first phase of the project is already underway.According to a statement issued by the MMOPL, the amount has been raised from a group of banks led by IDBI, Corporation Bank, Karur Vyasa bank, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce.

The Rs 2,356 crore project will have debt component of Rs 1,194 crore. The MMRDA will provide a capital grant of Rs 650 crore.Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created to implement the Versova Andheri - Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro corridor in Mumbai.

Mumbai Metro raises Rs 1,200cr loan for projectTNNOct 6, 2008, 05.54am IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure of Reliance ADA Group, France's Veolia Transport and the MMRDA, on Saturday signed an agreement to raise a loan of Rs 1,194 crore. Work on the first phase of the project is already underway.According to a statement issued by the MMOPL, the amount would be raised from a group of banks led by IDBI, Corporation Bank, Karur Vyasa Bank, Canara Bank, Indian Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce.

The Rs 2,356 crore project will have debt component of Rs 1,194 crore. The MMRDA will provide a capital grant of Rs 650 crore.MMOPL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) created to implement the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro corridor in Mumbai.

Build Metro with care: GovtChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNOct 21, 2008, 12.09am IST

MUMBAI: The Delhi Metro accident on Sunday has come as a wake-up call for the state government. The state government's infrastructure agencies have dusted their safety manuals and alerted its engineers and contractors working on the various projects to take utmost care.Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is in the process of implementing the first metro rail corridor between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri in collaboration with Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL). MMRDA and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) are also constructing flyovers across the city.

"Taking into account the recent mishaps of bridge collapse in Hyderabad, Lucknow and now Delhi, we have asked our contractors to strictly go by the safety manual. We are constantly monitoring the construction activities on a regular basis, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of the structures,'' said MSRDC chief engineer Subhash Nage. The recently-constructed flyover at Santa Cruz airport junction has developed potholes on its ramps.MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar said the safety measures, like for metro rail construction, had already been prescribed in the draft agreements with the contractors and regular monitoring of the safety measures was being done by their engineers. MMOPL director K P Maheshwari said that for the three bridges to be built under the metro rail project on Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, a special hazard analysis has been done to identify major and minor threats during construction.Maheshwari said that after the crane collapse on J P Road a few months ago that claimed the life of a commuter and the recent Delhi incident, the MMOPL had become more proactive. "Our safety arrangements and construction sequencing have already been rated by third-party experts who have specific expertise in the construction of such massive bridges in the urban atmosphere. I can assure Mumbaikars now that not even a single screw will fall on them,'' Maheshwari said.The work on Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro rail by the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) had claimed its first victim in Andheri after a 60-tonne crane with a piling rig toppled when the soil beneath it couldn't sustain the pressure, killing an autorickshaw passenger on the spot. The incident had taken place in front of A H Wadia School on J P Road in which the driver of the autorickshaw was severely injured.

WR gives green signal to Andheri metro overbridgeChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNDec 23, 2008, 03.47am IST

MUMBAI: The tracks are now clear for work on the city's first metro rail to roll full throttle. The deadlock between the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), promoters of the city's first metro rail, and Western Railways (WR), over building a bridge and a metro station above the tracks at Andheri station, was resolved on Monday.WR authorities have now asked MMOPL to reduce the proposed height of its metro rail bridge and station from 14 meters to 9 meters and build a steel bridge instead of a concrete structure. Work on the Rs 2365-crore Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro project started nearly two years ago after a bhoomipujan by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but received a big jolt when WR rejected MMOPL's proposal to construct a station and rail bridge above the tracks at Andheri station. WR had said the Railways itself was planning an elevated rail project between Mumbai Central and Virar. It had asked MMOPL to wait till the feasibility report on its proposed elevated corridor between Mumbai Central-Virar was completed.

Its refusal to clear the general agreement drawings of metro rail for over 11 months had stalled construction on the nearly one-km stretch between SV road on the western end of Andheri station and Agarkar Chowk on the eastern side."We recently arrived at a solution. As per WR directives we have brought down the height of the bridge and the station and put up fresh diagrams for approval. They have assured it will be cleared shortly," the MMOPL spokesman said, pointing out that WR's elevated rail will now go above the metro bridge. Confirming the development, WR spokesman Shyam Gupta said MMOPL was asked to implement some technical modifications to facilitate development of an elevated track by WR.While Reliance Energy owns 74 per cent euity in MMOPL, the government's stake stands at 26 per cent.

Metro's dozen may miss deadlineClara Lewis, TNNDec 24, 2008, 12.46am IST

MUMBAI: Work on the city's showpiece-the Rs 2,646-crore Versova-Ghatkopar metro rail project-is running behind schedule. Behind the delay is the labyrinth of utilities running underground, obtaining police permissions to block large sections of busy arterial roads, deferred decisions and late payments.The project is being executed by the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL)--a joint venture between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Reliance Infrastructure, the latter being the majority share-holder.

Work on the 12 metro stations started in April this year but so far only the first metro station near Ghatkopar railway station on the Hirachand Desai Road has reached the ground floor level. The viaduct across the 11.4 km route is also moving at a very slow pace.Work on the Asalpha station is also underway but at the other 10 stations there has been little progress. "All 12 stations are to be completed in 22 months (February 2010). Normally it takes only three to four months for the civil work but it is already nine months and work at most places is yet to take off,'' contractors working on the project said on condition of anonymity.Since the stations are being constructed on arterial roads, they require nearly 400 feet, or approximately 0.13 km of a road, to be blocked. "Traffic permission is required to block the road and only then can we dig to lay the foundations. But while digging we come across utilities and shifting them is a mammoth task,'' contractors pointed out. The utilities are virtually a city underground, nearly 18 of them running either parallel or criss-cross across the carriageway. "Shifting utilities requires co-ordinating with nearly 18 agencies. We have now informed MMOPL to clear the frontage and only then shall we undertake the construction work,'' they said.K P Maheshwari, managing director, MMOPL, admitted there were difficulties but said the work was far ahead of schedule. "We have five years to complete the project but are going to finish it by July 2010. Besides Ghatkopar, the foundation work has been completed at Chakala, Airport Road and Saki Naka,'' he said. But a senior MMRDA official said the work was delayed: "We are holding a meeting with traffic officials on Wednesday to sort out the permission issue."Besides, there are payment issues as well. Last week, workers at the Ghatkopar site struck work as they had not been paid for two months. Following the strike, MMOPL released money to the contractor. Maheshwari, however, denied any delay on MMOPL's part. "We have awarded the contract of constructing the metro stations to SEW Construction which has sub-contracted it. The dispute is between the contractor and the sub-contractor,'' he said. But MMRDA sources said metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad raised the payment issue at a recent board meeting and directed MMOPL to ensure there were no problems.Sources also alleged the project was being held up by indecisiveness in both, clearing purchase of raw materials and design of the stations. MMRDA officials said a 20-member design team had been kept ready as foundation plans needed to be changed repeatedly due to underground utilities. "At times utility firms are unable to locate missing links,'' said an official.

Shops fear losing businessClara Lewis, TNNDec 24, 2008, 12.46am IST

MUMBAI: For the last four months, Rafiqullah Khan, owner of Ashian footwear has seen business reduce to a trickle. Though located bang opposite the Ghatkopar West railway station, six-and-a-half feet high barricades hide his shop completely from view.Problems for Khan and 100-odd shopkeepers in the area began nearly nine months ago when the barricades went up for the construction of the first metro railway station on the busy Hirachand Desai road.

"When the BMC concretised the road a few years ago we were very happy as it had vastly improved our business prospects but ever since work on the metro rail began business has been down by 80 per cent,'' said Kannan Chandran, owner of Hotel Vasanth.Moreover, the fear road is that once the metro is commissioned they will all be out of business. "We have heard that they will allow commercial establishments in metro stations. Who will then come to our shops?'' Chandran lamented.But K P Maheshwari, managing director, MMOPL, said they had deputed an officer to hear the shopkeepers' grievances."We expect nearly 25,000 passengers per hour will use the metro rail from the Ghatkopar end so there is no question of allowing shops. Only 1,000 sq feet has been allowed for passenger conveniences such as snacks, bookshops and newspaper vendors. No one will lose their livelihood,'' he said.However shopkeepers alleged they had made several attempts to contact both the MMRDA and the MMOPL but there had been no response. Last week they were informed that an official would meet them to listen to their grievances but no one turned up."We are not against the metro rail. We understand it is in the interest of the city but what we cannot understand is why we were not taken into confidence before the work started. No one is telling us what will happen to us once the metro station comes up,'' said Khan who is now finding it difficult to make ends meet.The 60-feet wide road has been completely taken up for the construction of the metro rail station which will be 400 feet x 60 feet and a ground plus two-storey structure.The entire footpath has been dug up and private compound walls demolished to make a narrow passage for pedestrians to pass.

Mumbai metro: Swift, silent & safeChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNJan 9, 2009, 12.07am IST

MUMBAI: Mumbai's first metro rail line, Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG), promises to offer several special features never before used in mass commuting in the country. Most importantly, security will be very tight, especially after the recent 26/11 attacks.Officials say they have altered security plans after the terror attacks. Every bag, no matter how small, will now be screened by X-ray machines at the 12 stations on the line. There will also be a restriction on the size and number of bags a person may carry.

The earlier plan to electronically frisk passengers at the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates will also be implemented. All passenger movement inside stations and trains will be recorded by a CCTV system monitored from a control room. The data will also be stored in black boxes.The optimistic officials plan to present Mumbai with the totally new experience in suburban travel more than two years before the official deadline to complete the project.The elevated, 12-km VAG line should be commissioned by December 2010, an MMRDA official said. The Rs 2,356-crore project is expected to drastically reduce the city's transport woes, by ferrying upto 25,000 passengers in a single direction during peak hours and reducing travel time from Versova to Ghatkopar from 90 minutes to 21.Mumbai's first metro rail also promises to have several other special features. The elevated track has been designed to withstand severe natural calamities, like earthquakes and floods.Even if a single door remains open, the train will not move. The doors will also have the ability to detect obstacles in the doorways. This promises to reduce the number of accidents.The VAG line will have a mechanised ticketing system using swipe cards. An MMOPL spokesperson said that though commuters will be able to experience faster, noiseless transport, the cost would be affordable. Ticket prices are expected to be comparable to BEST fares, though the minimum fare would be higher than that of the cheapest bus ticket.With trains noiseless and tracks vibration-proof, those living alongside the metro line would also not be harassed, officials said. MMOPL project director K P Maheshwari said there would also be an emphasis on saving upto 40% energy through various measures (see `Power Saving').Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), a consortium led by Reliance Energy, has begun constructing pillars along the 12-km track that will link the 12 stations. It is in the process of finalising the features of the stations and the 16 4-car trains that will be bought from a Chinese company.The MMOPL spokesperson said there have been substantial changes to the design of the foundation because of problems encountered while relocating residents and businesses and the presence of underground utilities.The VAG track starts at Versova, runs along JP Road, crosses SV Road and goes over the Western Railway tracks north of Andheri station. Carrying out work across the tracks at Andheri is challenging, revealed officials. A cable-stayed bridge over the Western Express Highway flyover is being built above a congested traffic junction. The bridge itself will have pylons 40 metres tall with a deck level 22 metres above the ground.

The alignment then travels down Andheri-Kurla Road to cross the Western Express Highway and reach Saki Naka. From there, the alignment travels along the Andheri-Ghatkopar link road upto Asalpha village, from where it goes to LBS Road, Heera Chand Desai Road and finally Ghatkopar station.Construction is continuing in a very limited area along the median on stretches at Asalpha, Sarvodaya Hospital and Ghatkopar station.

Metro work leaves holes in water mainsClara Lewis, TNNMar 3, 2009, 03.50am IST

MUMBAI: Residents of Chakala, J B Nagar, Mahakali Caves and Marol have scarcely received any water in the last three days. The area has been facing intermittent problems of choked drains and no water supply ever since work on the Metro rail started in March last year.With two major infrastructure works--widening of Andheri-Ghatkopar Link road and the piling work for the Metro rail--being conducted simultaneously and the workers not provided with utility maps, water mains and sewerage lines are being accidentally punctured on a regular basis. "The maps showing the location of underground utilities, such as water mains, stormwater drains and sewer lines are over 15-20 years old. In the last six years, the road has been widened twice and the utilities have been shifted at certain places but the maps are yet to be updated,'' said R B Dhakane, local ward officer.

He said on Friday sewerage lines near the Marol market were damaged, while the water mains near the Andheri police station and the Marol fire brigade were affected owing to the piling work for the Metro rail. "We have carried out a joint inspection with the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) officials and repair work is on,'' said Dhakane.MMOPL officials were not available for comment.The road has been under the purview of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) since 2003 when it was taken up for widening. Most utilities were shifted to one side of the route, but some continue to run under the main carriageway.S Nandgirikar, chief engineer, roads, MMRDA, admitted that the absence of updated utility maps was hampering work. "We are widening the road as well as building the foundations for the Metro rail. As there are no updated maps we do not know where to excavate. The work is being done manually to ensure there is no widespread damage. There have been several accidents as well but we are taking care,'' he said.The MMRDA, Nandgirikar added, was laying new water mains on either side of the road which would connect to the existing water main under the main carriageway. "This should resolve the problem,'' he added.

Centre agrees to pitch in Rs 460 cr for Metro's VAG routeChittaranjan Tembhekar & Ashley D'Mello, TNNMar 5, 2009, 02.15am IST

MUMBAI: In a significant development that will speed up the implementation of Mumbai's Metro rail programme, the central government has approved Rs 460 crore as its share for the first phase of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) route.Being constructed by the Reliance Energy-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd, the first route demands a share of Rs 650 crore from the state and central government. While the Centre is providing Rs 460 crore, the MMRDA and state government will provide Rs 190 crore. The remaining funds - out of the total Rs 2,356 crore cost of the project - will be arranged by the private parties.

MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said the decision to fund the viability gap of Rs 460 crore for the Metro's first line was taken last month in a meeting of top-level bureaucrats of the central government.Initially, the Centre had refused to extend the money, saying that provision for such sharing was not there when the first Metro line was started."Looking into the scenario in which private companies were scared to bid for such projects, the Centre must have taken this stand to extend the share,'' revealed another official from MMRDA. The Centre, however, has already promised over Rs 1,500 crore share for the second line of Metro railway proposed between Charkop and Mankhurd via Bandra at the cost of Rs 7,760 crore.The executing agency the MMOPL is the joint venture of MMRDA, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Veolia transport, France. While MMRDA is a 26% stakeholder in the project; the rest of the stakes are with Reliance and Veolia.According to MMOPL sources, the MMRDA has also extended over Rs 400 crore to shift the underground utilities that were coming in way of the Metro construction. Several pillars have already come up on the route with the concrete structure of Ghatkopar station almost in place.

Metro work hits Andheri sewerChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNApr 1, 2009, 01.53am IST

MUMBAI: Shifting and securing underground utilities like sewage and water mains for civic infrastructure projects without affecting public life continue to be a difficult proposition.Construction work on the city's first Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro rail corridor received a jolt when an old and deeply laid sewage line got damaged at Manish Nagar on J P Road on Monday, causing inconvenience to residents.

According to sources, the damage caused during digging is major and will take at least five days to repair. It has stalled the construction work. The incident has occurred despite the fact that the Reliance-led executing agency for the Metro rail project-- Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL)--had carried out utility mapping of the entire stretch."The sewage mains were 30 ft below the ground and were aging. Water has spilled all over, causing inconvenience to residents of the surrounding area,'' a source said. However, according to MMOPL officials all-out efforts were being made to repair the damage and restore normalcy."MMOPL has engaged field experts, with experience in handling this kind of repair works at such a deep level, to complete restoration in the shortest possible time,'' added an MMOPL official. Sources said this is the first such mishap to have occurred during the construction of the Metro after it began a year ago.Bowing to pressure from residents, authorities had to recently postpone work on civic projects like the sewage line at Pedder Road and the demolition of the Lalbaug flyover

Near-collapse at Metro site injures 4Ashley DMello & Nitasha Natu, TNNDec 1, 2009, 03.39am IST

MUMBAI: The near-collapse of a steel reinforcement cage and a temporary scaffolding for a concrete pillar at the Mumbai Metro site on M V Road in Andheri (East) on Monday afternoon left four workers injured."A tragedy was averted as there was little traffic on the street at 3.30 pm when the steel cage bent sideways and hit an unoccupied Wagon R, damaging its rear,'' an Andheri police official said. A case of negligence has been registered against the site engineer and the contractor working for Simplex Construction Company.

According to officials in the city transport circles, this is the fourth accident on the Mumbai Metro's first line, which being built from Versova to Ghatkopar via Andheri.Two years ago, one person was killed and a auto-rickshaw driver was injured when a crane working at the Metro site crashed into the vehicle on J P Road. In July, a scaffolding collapsed at a spot and the next day, a labour supervisor was electrocuted at another.The Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is building the Metro at a cost of Rs 2,356 crore, is a special-purpose vehicle owned jointly by Reliance Infrastructure Limited, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and French multinational firm Veolia.MMRDA joint project director Dilip Kawathkar said in the light of Monday's accident, officials would review safety measures and make them more stringent. MMOPL officials said the incident was being investigated and the exact cause would be determined soon. "However, from the initial probe, it seems to be an error on the part of the contractor's worker. A team of engineers and workmen were rushed to the site and the fallen material removed,'' an official said.Till late in the evening, MMOPL top brass were huddled in a meeting working out a strategy for safety issues which continue to dog the line. MMOPL officials said they would compensate the owner of the vehicle damaged in Monday's incident.

Assess building harmed by metro work, says HCShibu Thomas, TNNFeb 24, 2010, 05.38am IST

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday ordered Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) to carry out a structural audit of a building in Andheri West, following claims by the housing society that its structure had been damaged due to the construction work on the Mumbai metro.Hearing an application filed by residents of Gautam Niwas on J P Road, Andheri West, a division bench of Justice F I Rebello and Justice J H Bhatia asked MMRDA to submit an interim report within seven days. Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL) offered to deposit Rs 10 lakh in court towards the assessment and for subsequent repairs, if any.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Dr Monica Matani and other residents of the building, who claimed that use of heavy duty vibro hammers had caused damage to the structure. MMOPL lawyer J Bhat said vibro hammers were last used in October 2008, and denied their use was in any way connected to the alleged damage. The advocate claimed the residents, under the guise of repairs, were trying to get MMOPL to renovate the 30-year-old building. As a "goodwill gesture" MMOPL had undertaken repairs of Dr Matani's flat, but other residents now claim that the building is in a precarious condition.Advocate Simran Puri, counsel for the residents, cited a report by a structural engineer that if there are any more cracks, the building would have to be evacuated.A report submitted to the court by MMRDA had said that "the distresses suffered by the building are, in brief, not age related or gradually developed but appear to be a result of a violent vibratory motion."

First Metro rake wheels into Mumbai from ShanghaiChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNApr 1, 2010, 01.03am IST

MUMBAI: The city's first Metro train with four coaches for the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) corridor arrived at a private portGTI adjacent to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)late on Thursday.The train has been taken to Metro's Versova depot, said the spokesperson for Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL). Equipped with air-conditioned coaches, sophisticated video and audio communication systems and a black box, the train has a unique lubrication system that spreads liquid on the track while taking turns, thus keeping noise levels to only 62 decibels.

The spanking new silver-pink rake, covered in a plastic, was sailed in fromShanghaiinChinawhere it was designed and manufactured by CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Co Ltd. The Reliance Infrastructure (R-Infra)-led MMOPL has given contract to CSR Nanjing to manufacture 16 rakes for this corridor, being built at Rs 2,356 crore. Violia Transport, France, is the consortium partner with R-Infra. The corridor, 60% civic construction work of which is over, will have 12 stations.The coaches, being unloaded at the port and likely to be dispatched to the car shed on Monday, will undergo range of tests on parts of the 11.4-km Metro corridor. It will be stationed at the DN Nagar depot in Versova where motormen, being recruited by the MMOPL, will be trained on simulation device shortly. Though the project has a December 2010 deadline, the bridge close to the Andheri station may delay the actual commissioning by four months. The route between DN Nagar depot and Azad Nagar near Navrang Cinema is expected to be completed first."Before the train is put on track, the MMOPL will carry out several tests under local conditions," said an MMOPL source. The rake was first tried and tested on a 1.3-km test track in Nanjing and was dispatched a month ago. The rakes were also tested on an 11-km track inBeijing.On Republic Day this year, Mumbaikars got a first glimpse of the city's Monorail. Now, on Independence Day, the city may witness the first trial run of the Metro rail. However, a source said the train might be unveiled on May 1, the day that marks the 50th anniversary of Maharashtra's formation.

Metro partners give conflicting dates of project completionAshley D'Mello, TNNDec 7, 2010, 04.05am IST

MUMBAI: Want to know when the Metro line from Versova to Ghatkopar will be finally ready for public use? Pose this question to the partners implementing the project and you will get two dates.While the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), which is building the Rs 2,356-crore first line, insists that it will be ready by June-July 2011, officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) are sure that we may have to wait til next Diwali.

When contacted, MMOPL director K P Maheshwari said, "We are targeting the middle of next year for finishing the line." On the other hand, MMRDA commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said, "We will be happy if it (the first line) is ready by Diwali next year."When pointed out the disparity, MMRDA officials were quick to point out that according to the agreement the date of completion was 2012. Maheshwari, however, said, "The Metro rail is a large infrastructure project. A difference of one or two months is quite okay."

Work on Mumbai Metro bridge to start next monthChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNJan 18, 2011, 01.09am IST

MUMBAI: The city's first Metro line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) has received a much needed push with the railways approving the design of a crucial bridge over the suburban railway tracks near Andheri station (between East and West ends). The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will commence the construction of the bridge in the first week of February."Railways have approved the design of the bridge, which will be a steel structure. They have also allotted us two hours late in the night for the construction. We hope to finish the work within seven to eight months," MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar said. The bridge has been a stumbling block for the corridor for almost a year as railways had raised objections over its height and structural specifications. Claiming that Metro work is ahead of schedule, Kawathkar said it was necessary to wait until due approvals as the bridge is passing from over the Railway territory. The technically challenging bridge will be an iron structure with 183 meter length over western railway tracks. Kawathkar said the MMOPL is already prepared with all plans and logistics to avoid delays in the construction work.

The bridge will be constructed in three spans of 61 meter each. The fabrication work of one span is already over and the rest is in progress. The three spans would be placed on four piers of which only one would be erected between the railway lines and three would be away from the railway lines. "We will ensure that the commuters are not inconvenienced". We are ready with the fixed time slots to commence the work on this iconic structure," he added. A public sector undertaking under the ministry of heavy industries, M/s BBJ (Kolkata), will construct the bridge.

Utility issues made Metro project an obstacle raceChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNMar 25, 2011, 01.46am IST

Tags: Manmohan SinghMUMBAI: Around 225 different foundation styles have been used thus far to build the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro line, something that officials involved with the project say could make the construction unique worldwide. Due to a complex network of underground utilities and space and traffic constraints, various designs had to be used to install underground piles and pile caps for the metro.KP Maheshwari, director of the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), said designing 225 different foundations for the 1,573 piles and 370 pile caps installed so far, and achieving the feat in cramped roads, was a challenge. "But thankfully every issue has been sorted out and work has now gained momentum," said Maheshwari.

The Metro line, which finance minister Ajit Pawar announced would be ready by November, has already been delayed. The underground utility network, scarcity of space, traffic constraints, litigation over property acquisition and red-tape over the Andheri bridge's design threw obstacles in the MMOPL's path.Maheshwari, whose team also built the airport express Metro inNew Delhi, said constructing Mumbai's Metro was different due to the city's unique challenges. MMRDA officials said the MMOPL had to redesign viaduct and pillar structures above ground to contend with the narrow spaces and widths available on roads. Its team also had restricted work hours.MMRDA sources blamed poor data about utilities beneath roads, a lack of coordination between civic utility agencies and between telephone, gas and power providers for delays. MMRDA sources said Delhi had political will, better coordination and less political interference.MMRDA officials said the railways delayed in approving the design for the Andheri bridge. They admitted that the railways had to scrutinize minute details, but speedier disposal was required.If compared with Metro construction work in Kolkata, Delhi (first phase) andBangalore, the delay in Mumbai appears reasonable, considering the issues with utilities, permissions and acquisitions. However, if compared with other cities abroad likeLondonandNew York, Mumbai's work is behind time.Prime MinisterManmohan Singhperformed the bhoomi pujan in June 2006. After a delay of almost two years due to red-tape, construction began. The latest deadline for the project is March 2012, but that too is likely to be missed. "If we have to build such Metro lines in the future, there has to be better coordination between agencies," said a source.

Vibro-hammer case: HC asks IIT-B for more proof of safetySwati Deshpande, TNNMar 29, 2011, 02.38am IST

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday asked IIT Bombay to state whether there would be any latent damage in case vibro-hammers are used now to the piers of the metro rail project at Andheri. An IIT-B panel had earlier suggested the use of vibro-hammers to re-assess the cause of damage to a residential Andheri building. The residents had alleged that their use by MMOPL had damaged the building two years ago.The HC bench of Justices Ajay Khanwilkar and Mridula Bhatkar observed that it wanted to rule out even a remote possibility of damage that could risk lives of lakhs of prospective commuters on the metro line once it is completed.

The HC query came in the wake of opposition raised by MMOPL to the regulated use of vibro-hammers as suggested by an expert IIT team at the metro site. The issue in court was the damage caused to Varshana Cooperative Housing Society allegedly due to the use of heavy drilling machines during the foundation work in the vicinity. Building resident Monica Matani had originally moved the HC against MMOPL.The cause of the building's damage is still not conclusive and the IIT had suggested a controlled re-use at the spot. But MMOPL, which is constructing the mega-transport project, has now objected to it, saying the pillars and piers are already erected and it was not advisable to use the vibro-hammer because even if it causes no immediate damage, "the possibility of a latent damage which may go undetected for yearscannot be ruled out"

Green light for Metro-II , but many hurdles aheadAshley D'Mello, TNNApr 16, 2011, 06.14am IST

Tags: Jairam RameshMUMBAI: The Union environment ministry has given clearance to the 32-km phase II of Mumbai Metro. The announcement was made on Friday by the minister,Jairam Ramesh, who was in Mumbai to discuss issues related to environmental clearances for projects in Maharashtra.The news cheered up officials at Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a consortium headed by Reliance Infra, but they said hard work lies ahead.

"The issues with the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd line will be similar to those faced during the laying of the first line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar ): getting a clear right of way along the route and the shifting of utilities like water, power and telephone lines," said a MMOPL official. "Adding to the problem is the fact that the civic authorities do not have proper maps of the layout of the underground utilities. In clearing the path for the Metro, we will have to do guesswork. One wrong move and there will be public outcry against the utilities being hit. Also, bridges need to be built over railway tracks in Bandra, Kurla and Mankhurd."Phase II is expected to cost Rs 11,500 crore. The construction period will depend on whether the government can give a clear right of way from the beginning , the official said. Referring to the first line, he said the right of way was not given at one go, but in stages, creating delays. "The government took time to rehabilitate hundreds of projectaffected persons occupying residences, commercial establishments and slum tenements lying on the Metro route."Building the bridges at Bandra, Kurla and Mankhurd will be a tricky business. "Getting the railways to agree to our design and safety norms will not be easy going by our experience during the laying of the first metro line," the official said. "The railway authorities took their time in clearing the design for the bridge near Andheri station. They have a number of norms that are not easy to adhere to."He said MMOPL also fears protests by citizens. "When the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA; the planning authority for the Metro) discussed with us plans for the second line, citizen groups raised strong objections to the elevated route from Bandra to Vile Parle."They preferred an underground route, which would obviate the need for moving hundreds of residences and shops. But the MMRDA ruled out the objections since the cost of an underground route would be three times that of an elevated one. We just hope the protests don't erupt again."

Accidents prompt safety reviewAshley D'Mello, TNNJul 9, 2011, 11.50pm IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is reviewing safety conditions on all its major infrastructure projects in the city in the wake of accidents on Metro and monorail project sites in the last ten days that claimed three lives.The accidents highlighted a lacuna in the way contractors were implementing safety procedures on the projects. MMRDA officials said they are conducting a thorough review and have asked for detailed plans for safety drills and precautions being undertaken at all large projects. MMRDA officials said that lessons learnt from this review will be implemented in all the major projects coming up in the region.

"We have asked the MMOPL for all their safety rules and regulations in force and will be going over it with a fine comb," said an MMRDA official. Transport consultants in the city have opined that contractors coming up with detailed plans is not enough and that there needs to be proper implementation at the ground level. The safety plans, some of which are based on Western models, it should be noted that the workmen inIndiaare different from their western counterparts.The plans need to be adapted to the conditions on the workplace in the city, experts said.- Ashley D'MelloThe MMRDA is the planning authority for the Metro, being built by special purpose vehicle Mumbai Metro One, jointly owned by Reliance Infra, MMRDA and French firm Veolia. The Monorail is being financed by the MMRDA and is being built by Larsen & Toubro and Scomi ofMalaysia.In addition there are several large rpad projects being undertaken by MMRDA including the Eastern Freeway from Museum to Ghatkopar via the Mumbai Port Trust, the Sahar Elevated Road and the two link roads Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road and Santacruz Chembur Link Road.Officials said that a through review with experts will be done and the lessons learnt from this review will be implemented in all the major projects coming up in the region.The MMRDA has the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor and the mammoth trans harbour link between Shewri and Nhava on the cards and it wants to do all it can for safety preparedness."We have asked the MMOPL for all their safety rules and regulations in force and will will be going thorough it with a finecomb," said an MMRDA official. Transport consultants in the city have opined that contractors coming up with detailed plans is not enough there needs to be proper implementation at the ground level. While implementing the safety plans some oc which are based on Western models it should be noted that the workmen in India are different from their western counterparts. The plans need to be adapted to the conditions on the workplace in the city, lthey said.

Don't withhold Metro mishap details: MMRDAAshley D'Mello, TNNJul 21, 2011, 06.09am IST

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which was informed 18 hours after the death of a worker at a project site, has asked the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) to take precautions and not withhold accident details from it.MMOPL, which is building the first Metro line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar ) in the city, has blamed its junior officials for initially attempting to conceal the death on its project site near Andheri station on July 7. "We have written to MMOPL about the incident ," said an MMRDA official. "The worker was rushed to a hospital and we also filed a report at the police station concerned . There was no deliberate attempt to conceal anything," said an MMOPL official. Meanwhile, MMRDA officials are discussing methods to gear up safety standards at project sites in the city.

Metro to be ready by 2012-end onlyAshley DMello, TNNSep 6, 2011, 06.27am IST

Tags: Reliance Infrastructure| Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority| MetroMUMBAI: The Metro's first line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) will be ready only by the end of 2012, and not early next year, as planned. This follows a "realistic assessment" by officials of Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is constructing the Metro.MMOPL is owned byReliance Infrastructure, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and a French multinational,VeoliaTransport.The project encountered several problems when it began. .: Many shopkeepers at Andheri station had to be rehabilitated, there were problems of "right of way" and complaints that the large drills used for construction were affecting buildings along the route.

However an MMOPL spokesperson said most of the problems were now behind them. "Work is on at various project phases simultaneously; these include construction of stations, depots, track work, overhead electrification and signaling," he said.While most stations along the 11-km route are incomplete, officials said in the Jagruti Nagar and Airport Road ones were almost 95% complete. There are two crucial bridges along the route: A bridge over Western Railway tracks in Andheri and a cable-stayed bridge over the Western Express highway. The first bridge's work was delayed as there were prolonged talks with the railways over the method of executing the project. "Work is now on with full cooperation from the railways,'' an MMOPL official said.

Metro to be ready by 2012-end onlyAshley DMello, TNNSep 6, 2011, 06.54am IST

Tags: realistic assessment| Mumbai Metro One Private LimitedMUMBAI: The Metro's first line (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar ) will be ready only by the end of 2012, and not early next year, as planned. This follows a " realistic assessment" by officials of Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), which is constructing the Metro.MMOPL is owned by Reliance Infrastructure, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and a French multinational,VeoliaTransport.The project encountered several problems when it began. However an MMOPL spokesperson said most of the problems were now behind them.

Metro first line hinges on Andheri bridgeChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNOct 11, 2011, 05.36AM IST

Tags: Rahul Asthana| Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd| MMRDA| civil construction workAlthough the civil construction work for Mumbai's metro rail is moving at a snail's pace at a few locations due to acquisition and right of way (ROW) issues, it appears to be inching closer to the finishing line. Acquisition and ROW issues normally create a roadblock in not just the structure of a project, but also the space required for the work.All the 1,668 piles dug up to build 456 pillars along the 12-kilometre metro rail track are ready. Of the 456 pillars above these piles, only 54 are remaining . Pillar structures are considered crucial as once they are ready, placing of U-shaped girders atop them (it is girders that host tracks and trains) can be speeded up. Of the total 766 girders, 530 have been launched above the pillars and 121 are ready at the workshop. Similarly, more than 70% of the work on 12 stations is complete as most of the station structures have already come up to the platform level.

Sources at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), though, told TOI that six pillars between Navrang theatre and S V Road on J P Road are not yet complete. This is because the required space for construction is not available on the narrow stretch of the road, said officials. Girders here have, therefore, been redesigned by the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) to pace up the work. Civil works for the viaduct and the stations as well as the D N Nagar depot are expected to be complete by May 2012.On another large stretch of the line, between Asalpha and Jagruti Nagar stations, around 14 pillars are facing hurdles posed by underground utilities as well as lack of traffic permissions. Similarly, the three to four pillars needed to build the Asalpha station near Maheshwar temple are stuck as certain portion of the temple land is to be acquired. Construction of three to four pillars near Sarvoday Hospital in Ghatkopar, where the metro's last station will come up, too is faced with the acquisition row between the MMRDA and the property owners.The MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "We are hopeful that all these works would be complete within the rescheduled deadline of August 2012, although they are being delayed due to some reason or the other. MMOPL teams and MMRDA are working hard to resolve the acquisition and ROW disputes with the concerned authorities and property owners. I am sure these issues will not delay the commissioning of the metro." Asthana added that the Asalpha station may not be ready in time.It may be recalled that even the construction of cable-stay bridge above the Jog flyover on the Western Express Highway is critical due to the huge traffic. Pillars for this bridge along the flyover have already come up. Similarly, construction is on for a few pillars between WEH and Chakala stations besides a few towards the Saki Naka station. "We hope to complete this bridge and a few pillars within the set timeframe ," said MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar. According to Kawathkar, the viaduct and station construction works will meet the new deadline.The TrainAround 16 trains with four to six coaches each will ferry around 25,000 passengers in a single direction during peak hours and reduce travel time from Versova to Ghatkopar to 21 minutes from the present minimum 90 minutes. Air-conditioned coaches have seating along windows with most of the space left for standing passengers. LCD screens, 3D route maps, first-aid , blackbox , fire fighting equipments, facility to interact with motormen will be the specaialities of the metro which will offer noiseless and vibration-proof travel. Emergency evacuation is also available.

Metro first line hinges on Andheri bridgeChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNOct 11, 2011, 05.34AM IST

Tags: Western Railway tracks near Andheri station| Versova Nagar| Reliance Infrastructure| Rahul Asthana| metro rail bridge| Azad NagarThe construction of a metro rail bridge above the existing Western Railway tracks near Andheri station , which sees huge train traffic daily, will decide when Mumbai's first metro line between Versova and Ghatkopar can be opened to public. Oddly , while the metro rail project is expected to be complete by August 2012, the tentative deadline for the Andheri rail bridge is set one month later - that is, September 2012.The Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), which is led byReliance Infrastructureas well as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is eyeing test runs of the metro on the three-kilometer stretch between Versova and Azad Nagar stations by March 2012. Similarly , the entire project work has now been scheduled to be complete by August 2012, after the civil work for the viaduct and station is over by May 2012.

"But for all of us working on this project, the railway bridge is going to be a very critical issue. It will decide when we will be able to commission the city's first metro railway. We have invited experts from abroad to suggest different methods to complete this bridge in record time of two to three months, without disturbing suburban rail traffic. We are working on it now," said Rahul Asthana, MMRDA commissioner.On the 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line, more than 5,000 labourers, engineers and other staff are working day and night in three shifts to achieve the targets. According to Asthana, the 183-meter railway bridge will be built segment by segment, which means, each will be laid between the three main pillars of the bridge during two hours of train blockage late in the night. "We are getting one and a half hours to two hours to put up the segments everyday.Considering this time, we will be able to place only two to three segments every day, which means a minimum of 10 months for construction . The railways have been very helpful in getting more hours of train blocks, but it is still a challenge to complete the work within the set deadline ," said Asthana.MMOPL sources said that one of the three pillars along the railway tracks has come up and the other two are remaining . "The most crucial would be the one which is right in the middle of the railway tracks. Working on it when the traffic is live will be a big challenge," said Asthana.However, he said experts from abroad will study the bridge and help us fasten the segment-laying work so that it could be finished within two to three months without disturbing the traffic. "We are meeting in the next couple of weeks to decide whether any quick method can be evolved. Certainly then, we will be able to set the deadline for the bridge as well as the entire project," Asthana said. He, however, remains confident that the trial run of the metro between Versova and Azad Nagar stations will be carried out by March 2012.

Fire dept nod to Metro under lensSwati Deshpande, TNNFeb 16, 2012, 06.08AM IST

Tags: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority| MMRDA| Bombay high courtMUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the fire department to file an affidavit explaining how it granted a clearance to the Versova-Ghatkopar Metro rail work after a PIL questioned its validity. It also called for affidavits from the state urban development department, civic administration , Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority ( MMRDA) and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL). The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Andheri resident Monica Matani alleging improper fire clearance and violations of development control regulations (DCR), building code and fire prevention rules in the Metro project.The PIL alleged that the state and civic authorities as well as the Anil Ambani group-led MMOPL are "putting the lives of those living adjacent to the stations and of thousands who would be using the Metro at risk" by flouting rules and allowing the Metro station at Ghatkopar to almost graze buildings. The minimum space requirement from the existing buildings is five metres from a viaduct and three metres from a railway station building, said Matani, but in Ghatkopar the gap is as less as one-and-half metre, not enough for fire brigade vehicles to reach or pass. Her counsel Fredun De'Vitre said a NOC for all 12 station buildings was given even though the law mandates a separate clearance for each building. Besides, the clearance was sought in December 2009 though work began in February 2008.

The stand of the fire department was that it would not issue a "compliance certificate" if violations are found after completion of Metro's first phase. "This is unreasonable and a perverse approach to allow illegalities to continue," Matani said, adding it could only presumably lead to a "regularization" plea as some of the conditions "cannot be complied with due to the topography and location of existing buildings."MMOPL counsel J J Bhat said the nod was granted in accordance with law on the same lines as in Delhi and Bangalore for Metro projects. He said the petitioner had earlier filed a plea which led to her flat being repaired by the company.The fire department issued the NOC in March 2010, about 18 months before the petition was filed. MMOPL is expected to question the petition on delay . MMOPL has also said that it has engaged international consultants to ensure compliance with the fire NOC at all stages and that the PIL is filed to "jeopardize" the project.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority upset with Metro delayAshley D'Mello, TNNMay 8, 2012, 01.16AM IST

Tags: S Srinivas| Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority| MMOPLMUMBAI: Upset with the tardy progress of work on the first line of Metro, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) held a review meeting with officials of Mumbai Metro 1, which is constructing the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line to identify the "problem" areas.After the meeting, the state agency has reportedly found ways to overcome the hurdles that are slowing down work. The construction of the Metro depot at D N Nagar is progressing well and it should be ready in five months, said MMRDA additional commissioner S Srinivas, who called the meeting. According to him, in pockets along the route, encroachments and residents' refusal to move out were not allowing the authorities to have a "clear right of way". But, Srinivas said, with most of the residents and those having commercial establishments along the route being rehabilitated, the way has been cleared and so, the work would now progress fast.

The project, which is nearing completion, is scheduled to be opened to the public early next year. Initially, the work was slowed down after shopkeepers near the Andheri station refused to vacate the place unless being offered a "proper" rehabilitation scheme. Even the railways refused to give permission to the authorities build a bridge over the tracks in Andheri West unless the bridge design was altered. Only after over a year of negotiations, the MMOPL got the sanction to build the bridge. Srinivas added, "The work on the bridge is in the second stage."

HC: Wont interfere in important infrastructure projectRosy Sequeira, TNNJul 15, 2012, 04.19AM IST

Tags: public project| Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd| Metro rail project| Bombay high courtMUMBAI: Observing that it will not interfere in a public project of considerable importance to residents of Mumbai, the Bombay high court dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the construction of a staircase for the Metro rail project near a shopping mall in Andheri (E).On June 26, a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Nitin Jamdar heard a petition filed by M/s Sahar Developers, urging directions to restrain the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) from constructing the proposed staircase for the J B Nagar/Chakala Metro station close to the main gate of Sahar Plaza Complex on M V Road. The petitioner had sought relocation of the proposed staircase to some other place at the safe distance from the mall.

According to the petition, one of the four staircases will land near the entry gate and close to the main gate of Sahara Plaza Complex. Sahar's counsel Prasad Dhakephalkar argued that the decision to provide for the staircase near the mall's main gate was taken without considering the difficulties and inconvenience to the occupants of and visitors to the shopping complex.But MMRDA and MMOPL's advocates submitted that all relevant factors, including commuter convenience and public safety, were considered while locating the staircase at its existing position. There are four staircases in the station building. The advocates informed the court that the construction of the station building and the staircases was at an advanced stage and near completion.In their order, the judges said, "As per the settled legal position, in such matters, the writ court does not sit in appeal over the decisions of the authorities which are entrusted with the execution and implementation of the public project of considerable importance to the residents of Mumbai."

50-ft-long Mumbai metro slab slips, 1 killed, 16 hurtChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 5, 2012, 12.07AM IST

Tags: Suresh Nair| state health minister| Sahar police| Rahul Asthana| Prithviraj Chavan| Naseem Khan| Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd| MMRDA| Hindustan Construction CompanyMUMBAI: A 50-feet long concrete slab collapsed at the Metro railway's under-construction airport station around 4.35pm on Tuesday, killing at least one labourer and injuring 16 others, two of them critically. Naseem Khan, guardian minister for the suburbs, who informed the cabinet of the incident, said the slab slipped while it was being mounted on the scaffolding. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.Sahar police have registered a case against unidentified people under section 304A of the IPC for causing death by negligence. State health minister Suresh Shetty said all the injured and the one dead were labourers. "An enquiry has been ordered to find out whether the contractor's shoddy work caused the incident. We will decide on the compensation to be paid to the victims," he said.

Indications were that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is scheduled to travel to Nashik on Wednesday morning, could visit the accident site later in the afternoon.The 12 km metro railway, being built by Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), has been plagued by several mishaps from the start. RInfra had appointedHindustan Construction Company, which has built the Bandra-Worli Sea link, as sub-contractor for the Rs 2,356-crore project. Tuesday's incident has again put the focus back on the quality of construction at the Metro project. Sources said inquiries into the incident and inspections may push the deadline of the much-delayed project by a month or two."We deeply regret the accident at the airport station Metro site, which is being constructed by our contractor HCC. Our emergency response team along with HCC staff is at the site to provide rescue and relief services which is the immediate priority for us. We will keep the media and affected parties posted as we obtain more information on the accident," an MMOPL spokesperson said.MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "The MMRDA is a minority stake-holder in the RInfra-led MMOPL. The state government will order an inquiry into the incident."Minutes after the incident, locals and pedestrains present at the spot rushed to rescue labourers trapped in the debris and called the fire brigade. The slab collapsed a few metres from the road and locals said casualties could have been higher if the slab had fallen on vehicles passing below.Sources said one labourer died while being taken to hospital. Three workers were taken to the critical care units of the nearby Seven Hills and Cooper hospitals. An eyewitness, Suresh Nair, who was withdrawing cash from a nearby ATM, said he heard a loud noise when the freshly-laid concrete slab and supporting girders started falling, trapping labourers below. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred towards Leela Galleria, close to the portion of the footpath of Andheri-Ghatkopar road, where a staircase for the proposed Metro was being built. "People were running helter-skelter as the concrete and iron sheets began falling," said Nair.The debris and rescue operations created huge traffic snarls in the area for more than three hours. As rescue operations began, the traffic police deployed additional personnel as the incident coincided with the evening peak-hour. Vehicles were diverted to Kumaria junction through Sahar. "The Andheri-Kurla road was closed for traffic moving towards the Western Express Highway and diversions were put in place. We also circulated text messages advising people to take the Sahar road instead," said a senior traffic official. Major snarls were reported on arterial roads like Sahar road, Aarey road and nearby areas leading to the Western Express Highway, including JB Nagar and Chakala. The road was reopened to traffic by late Tuesday night.

Private partnership review likely after infra accidentsChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 7, 2012, 01.28AM IST

Tags: Private Partnership| MMRDA| Metro| infra accidentsMUMBAI: The state government may consider a change in the way infrastructure projects are executed, which may include altering the currently favoured public-private-partnership model.The government is reportedly weighing options like retaining the majority stake in future projects, giving public bodies like the MMRDA greater say in the execution of projects. There have been indications of a significant shift in policy for a while now, but recent accidents at several infrastructure projects in the city is believed to have triggered the move.

"Projects which have not taken off yet will either not have private partners or only with a minority stake," said highly placed sources in the administration. Projects likely to be affected are the upcoming Nhava-Sewri link and the Navi Mumbai airport. In Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd, which is building the first metro rail between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri at the cost of Rs 2356 crore, Reliance Infrastructure is the major stake holder with 69%, its technical partner, Veolia Corporation has 5% while MMRDA has 26%.MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said an emergency meeting of the MMOPL board has been convened next week to discuss Tuesday's Metro mishap and the line of actions ahead. However, an MMOPL spokesperson denied of having issued any direction from MMRDA in this regard.Meanwhile two people employed with HCC, civil engineer Krishna Valvekar and site supervisor Kalicharan Patra, were arrested for the Metro mishap based on preliminary evidence. HCC is the sub-contractor. Valvekar and Patra were booked under IPC sections for 304 (A) (death due to negligence), 337 (endangering life) and 338 (grievous hurt). They were produced before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate on Thursday and released on bail.Senior officials said having private partners with majority stakes meant government agencies have to take the flak for mishaps without direct authority. "We will prefer to opt for funding from banks, besides part funding from the Centre," sources said.MMOPL sources however said it was not the PPP model hampering the project but the inability of the government and its agencies in getting the right of way (ROW) for construction within the timeframe.(With inputs from V Narayan)Safety review of all infra projects likelyMUMBAI: Taking serious note of the Metro mishap and the frequency of mishaps at the city's ongoing infrastructure projects, the state government is considering a review of safety procedures and quality of work at all major infrastructure projects.Most of these projects are being executed by the MMRDA, while a few are by the MSRDC and BMC. A demand for a safety check of all infrastructure projects is also believed to have been raised in the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday.Indicating that the demand for a quality check of all infrastructure projects had takers outside the government too, Congress legislator Krishna Hegde (Vile Parle) on Thursday met chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to demand an independent third party audit of quality, stability and safety measures for all MMRDA projects. Speaking to TOI, Hegde also called for a review of cost escalations in the Milan subway flyover and the flyover work being carried at the Amar Mahal junction in Chembur.

Metro-I likely to miss deadline againChittaranjan TembhekarSep 8, 2012, 02.53AM IST

Tags: Mumbai Metro One Private Limited| MMRDA| Metro OneMUMBAI: The Metro One timetable is set to be marred further. Already running late, the city's first metro project seems likely to miss its third deadline of March 2013, said senior officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a stakeholder in the project.State government officials, too, feel that engineers will find it difficult to push their teams as construction has to be carried out with utmost care, especially in heavy showers, because none of the agencies involved in the project would want any slip-ups in the rush to meet deadline.

On Tuesday, a portion of a station's concourse and the staircase that was being laid in rain came crashing down, killing a labourer and injuring 16 others.The monsoon, which seems to be reviving in the city at its fag end, is adding to the construction woes. Indian meteorological department officials said normally monsoon showers are expected till the end of September, but because it took long to pick up, the rains may continue till the first week of October.MMRDA sources feared work may have to be suspended frequently in case of heavy rains ahead, particularly scuttling efforts to stick to targets on building the 12 stations, especially the landing staircases on or along footpaths. Approval from railway safety certification authorities after test runs is another issue."These can surely affect the metro deadline by two months or more," said one source.Already, work was suspended till Friday for three days for a state government-ordered safety audit of the entire 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line by experts.The spokesperson for Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium that is implementing the project, dismissed the fears. "Closure of work for a couple of days is definitely not going to affect the project schedule...," he said.Sources close to MMOPL said work will start on Saturday, but only at some of the locations on the line and with more precautions. Yet, rains won't delay the project, they claimed, as they have completed more than 80% work on 11 stations, except for the 12th Subhash Nagar station. "Any issue of delay in certification from railway safety authorities after test runs can be discussed at a later stage. As of now, we don't foresee any delay in completion of work," said a source.

50-ft-long Mumbai metro slab slips, 1 killed, 16 hurtChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 5, 2012, 12.07AM IST

Tags: Suresh Nair| state health minister| Sahar police| Rahul Asthana| Prithviraj Chavan| Naseem Khan| Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd| MMRDA| Hindustan Construction CompanyMUMBAI: A 50-feet long concrete slab collapsed at the Metro railway's under-construction airport station around 4.35pm on Tuesday, killing at least one labourer and injuring 16 others, two of them critically. Naseem Khan, guardian minister for the suburbs, who informed the cabinet of the incident, said the slab slipped while it was being mounted on the scaffolding. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.Sahar police have registered a case against unidentified people under section 304A of the IPC for causing death by negligence. State health minister Suresh Shetty said all the injured and the one dead were labourers. "An enquiry has been ordered to find out whether the contractor's shoddy work caused the incident. We will decide on the compensation to be paid to the victims," he said.

Indications were that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is scheduled to travel to Nashik on Wednesday morning, could visit the accident site later in the afternoon.The 12 km metro railway, being built by Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), has been plagued by several mishaps from the start. RInfra had appointedHindustan Construction Company, which has built the Bandra-Worli Sea link, as sub-contractor for the Rs 2,356-crore project. Tuesday's incident has again put the focus back on the quality of construction at the Metro project. Sources said inquiries into the incident and inspections may push the deadline of the much-delayed project by a month or two."We deeply regret the accident at the airport station Metro site, which is being constructed by our contractor HCC. Our emergency response team along with HCC staff is at the site to provide rescue and relief services which is the immediate priority for us. We will keep the media and affected parties posted as we obtain more information on the accident," an MMOPL spokesperson said.MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "The MMRDA is a minority stake-holder in the RInfra-led MMOPL. The state government will order an inquiry into the incident."Minutes after the incident, locals and pedestrains present at the spot rushed to rescue labourers trapped in the debris and called the fire brigade. The slab collapsed a few metres from the road and locals said casualties could have been higher if the slab had fallen on vehicles passing below.Sources said one labourer died while being taken to hospital. Three workers were taken to the critical care units of the nearby Seven Hills and Cooper hospitals. An eyewitness, Suresh Nair, who was withdrawing cash from a nearby ATM, said he heard a loud noise when the freshly-laid concrete slab and supporting girders started falling, trapping labourers below. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred towards Leela Galleria, close to the portion of the footpath of Andheri-Ghatkopar road, where a staircase for the proposed Metro was being built. "People were running helter-skelter as the concrete and iron sheets began falling," said Nair.The debris and rescue operations created huge traffic snarls in the area for more than three hours. As rescue operations began, the traffic police deployed additional personnel as the incident coincided with the evening peak-hour. Vehicles were diverted to Kumaria junction through Sahar. "The Andheri-Kurla road was closed for traffic moving towards the Western Express Highway and diversions were put in place. We also circulated text messages advising people to take the Sahar road instead," said a senior traffic official. Major snarls were reported on arterial roads like Sahar road, Aarey road and nearby areas leading to the Western Express Highway, including JB Nagar and Chakala. The road was reopened to traffic by late Tuesday night.

Private partnership review likely after infra accidentsChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 7, 2012, 01.28AM IST

Tags: Private Partnership| MMRDA| Metro| infra accidentsMUMBAI: The state government may consider a change in the way infrastructure projects are executed, which may include altering the currently favoured public-private-partnership model.The government is reportedly weighing options like retaining the majority stake in future projects, giving public bodies like the MMRDA greater say in the execution of projects. There have been indications of a significant shift in policy for a while now, but recent accidents at several infrastructure projects in the city is believed to have triggered the move.

"Projects which have not taken off yet will either not have private partners or only with a minority stake," said highly placed sources in the administration. Projects likely to be affected are the upcoming Nhava-Sewri link and the Navi Mumbai airport. In Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd, which is building the first metro rail between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri at the cost of Rs 2356 crore, Reliance Infrastructure is the major stake holder with 69%, its technical partner, Veolia Corporation has 5% while MMRDA has 26%.MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said an emergency meeting of the MMOPL board has been convened next week to discuss Tuesday's Metro mishap and the line of actions ahead. However, an MMOPL spokesperson denied of having issued any direction from MMRDA in this regard.Meanwhile two people employed with HCC, civil engineer Krishna Valvekar and site supervisor Kalicharan Patra, were arrested for the Metro mishap based on preliminary evidence. HCC is the sub-contractor. Valvekar and Patra were booked under IPC sections for 304 (A) (death due to negligence), 337 (endangering life) and 338 (grievous hurt). They were produced before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate on Thursday and released on bail.Senior officials said having private partners with majority stakes meant government agencies have to take the flak for mishaps without direct authority. "We will prefer to opt for funding from banks, besides part funding from the Centre," sources said.MMOPL sources however said it was not the PPP model hampering the project but the inability of the government and its agencies in getting the right of way (ROW) for construction within the timeframe.(With inputs from V Narayan)Safety review of all infra projects likelyMUMBAI: Taking serious note of the Metro mishap and the frequency of mishaps at the city's ongoing infrastructure projects, the state government is considering a review of safety procedures and quality of work at all major infrastructure projects.Most of these projects are being executed by the MMRDA, while a few are by the MSRDC and BMC. A demand for a safety check of all infrastructure projects is also believed to have been raised in the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday.Indicating that the demand for a quality check of all infrastructure projects had takers outside the government too, Congress legislator Krishna Hegde (Vile Parle) on Thursday met chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to demand an independent third party audit of quality, stability and safety measures for all MMRDA projects. Speaking to TOI, Hegde also called for a review of cost escalations in the Milan subway flyover and the flyover work being carried at the Amar Mahal junction in Chembur.

Metro-I likely to miss deadline againChittaranjan TembhekarSep 8, 2012, 02.53AM IST

Tags: Mumbai Metro One Private Limited| MMRDA| Metro OneMUMBAI: The Metro One timetable is set to be marred further. Already running late, the city's first metro project seems likely to miss its third deadline of March 2013, said senior officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a stakeholder in the project.State government officials, too, feel that engineers will find it difficult to push their teams as construction has to be carried out with utmost care, especially in heavy showers, because none of the agencies involved in the project would want any slip-ups in the rush to meet deadline.

On Tuesday, a portion of a station's concourse and the staircase that was being laid in rain came crashing down, killing a labourer and injuring 16 others.The monsoon, which seems to be reviving in the city at its fag end, is adding to the construction woes. Indian meteorological department officials said normally monsoon showers are expected till the end of September, but because it took long to pick up, the rains may continue till the first week of October.MMRDA sources feared work may have to be suspended frequently in case of heavy rains ahead, particularly scuttling efforts to stick to targets on building the 12 stations, especially the landing staircases on or along footpaths. Approval from railway safety certification authorities after test runs is another issue."These can surely affect the metro deadline by two months or more," said one source.Already, work was suspended till Friday for three days for a state government-ordered safety audit of the entire 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line by experts.The spokesperson for Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), the Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium that is implementing the project, dismissed the fears. "Closure of work for a couple of days is definitely not going to affect the project schedule...," he said.Sources close to MMOPL said work will start on Saturday, but only at some of the locations on the line and with more precautions. Yet, rains won't delay the project, they claimed, as they have completed more than 80% work on 11 stations, except for the 12th Subhash Nagar station. "Any issue of delay in certification from railway safety authorities after test runs can be discussed at a later stage. As of now, we don't foresee any delay in completion of work," said a source.

Metro work to be stalled for 5 daysChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 11, 2012, 02.08AM IST

Tags: Veolia Corporation| Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority| Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd| MetroMUMBAI: Construction work on the Metro's Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route, which was stalled since last week's mishap in Andheri to facilitate safety audit and independent probe, may not start for another five to six days.Ahead of its Tuesday's meeting, the Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL) has announced the suspension of work on the route. "The decision has been taken suo motu by the company at a high-level meeting," said MMOPL spokesperson. An engineer and a supervisor of Hindustan Construction Company, Rinfra-led MMOPL's sub-contractor,

were arrested after the mishap. Like HCC there are several sub-contractors working on the 12 km route comprising 12 stations.MMOPL is the Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) -led company with equity participation of Veolia Corporation of France and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). While RInfra -Veolia consortium has 74 per cent stakes in the project, MMRDA has 26 per cent with a veto power."The stalling work of will not impact the cost and deadline," of the project,"said the MMOPL spokesperson. The project cost is around Rs 2356 crore and the new extended deadline is March 2013 which according to MMRDA officials is again an unlikely target following extended monsoon and the amount of pending works."With respect to human life, safety and quality, MMOPL has taken the decision to suspend all the work; it will facilitate an elaborate third-party safety audit for the entire 12-km project and also ensure adherence to the highest safety standards at all locations. We would like to ensure "ZERO INCIDENT" project site all the time and by all our contractors on the site."According to MMOPL the company had decided to appoint an independent safety firm to ensure strict compliance at all time and at all locations. "MMOPL will resume the construction work once we are confident that all the contractors and vendors were committed to all types of safety norms," the company stated in its press release on Monday.On September 4, 2012, while concreting a 61-feet staircase and a portion of a concourse slab of airport metro station, the staging (a support to the concrete slab that was being laid) suddenly subsided and came crashing along with labourers who were mounting the concrete atop. MMOPL and MMRDA have already appointed an inquiry committee of experts to probe the incident which is primarily suspected to have caused by ignoring rains while laying a concrete slab. According to sources of the 16 injured 14 have been discharged and remaining two were operated upon. Compensation to the family of a dead labourer and those injured is being extended, said sources.

Safety first, deadline secondary: Metro chiefChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 12, 2012, 03.08AM IST

Tags: RInfra| MMRDA| MMOPL| Metro rail projectMUMBAI: After last week's mishap that claimed a labourer's life and injured 16 others and a few other mishaps in the past, Mumbai's first Metro rail project appears to have finally learnt its lesson.Construction sites of all the metro stations will have safety nets and better lighting below to avoid the possible danger of objects falling on the traffic below besides everyday safety review and monitoring. SGS, a global agency in construction management and safety, will now take stock of the safety audit. It will decide whether every plan and action in Metro construction will be safe or not besides ensuring that the condition of the road along the construction path is well maintained.

"Even though we are racing to meet the already extended deadline (March 2013) and construction work is being stalled for 10 to 15 days to conduct a thorough review and rectify mistakes if any, there will be no compromise with safety," said Sumit Banerjee, CEO of RInfra's road and metro rail construction wing.Reliance Infrastructure ( RInfra) leads the MMOPL as a major stakeholder in the project. MMOPL will also have separate sub-committee dedicated to safety aspect of construction from now onwards, announced Banerjee."There are still two minor hurdlesdelayed acquisition of a small portion of a mosque for the upcoming Andheri railway bridge and that of Maheshwar temple in Subhash Nagar near Asalpha for constructing a station. Similarly, no space to land staircases of two other Metro stations may add to the trouble," sources in the Mumbai Metro On Private Ltd (MMOPL) revealed."Cost of safety assumes priority as it can either push deadlines in case of mishaps or help achieve the target if implemented at the minutest levels. And we are committed to meet the March 2013 deadline even if the safety audit takes more than 15 days," said Banerjee. According to him despite the delay in getting right of way (ROW) and lack of space for construction, the work has gone ahead with a remarkable speed. "Had we got ROW in time, construction would have been complete in three years," he claimed.MMRDA Chief Rahul Asthana said the MMOPL should be more proactive in terms of time-to-time safety audit and ensuring safety precautions everyday.

Tardy MMRDA held up Metro-I workChittaranjan Tembhekar, TNNSep 17, 2012, 06.17AM IST

Tags: RInfra| Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd| MMRDA| Metro-I projectMUMBAI: The launch of Metro-I project in 2006 had given Mumbaikars hope that their travel travails may abate before long. But six years on, the project is less in news for successes than for grim reports of mishaps and periodic announcements of delays.Reliance Infrastructure, which is the major stakeholder in the consortium developing the project, Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd (MMOPL), blames the delay in Metro-I's completion on MMRDA. The government agency, RInfra officials say, failed to free up land for construction on time and hand it over, causing the prolonged hold-up.

As per the contractual agreement made by MMRDA with RInfra, the former was to acquire land along Metro-I's Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route and deliver what is called the "right of way" to MMOPL by December 2008. But that scarcely happened; in fact, till August of that year, only 20% of the land had been freed. Thus, when construction started in October 2008, there was little path available to build on. It did not help that maps of underground utilities, such as pipelines and cables, were initially absent. MMOPL finally received 100% of the land earmarked for the project in December 2011, according to sources.As a result of the tardiness, the official deadline for Metro-I's completion was put off repeatedly . From March 2010, it was first changed to March 2012 and then to March 2013. Even the last deadline, some officials admit, is unachievable, given the long list of unfinished work."There are still two minor hurdlesdelayed acquisition of a small portion of a mosque's premises for the Andheri railway bridge and of Maheshwar temple in Subhash Nagar for constructing a station. Similarly, no space to land the staircases of two other Metro stations may add to the trouble ," a source in RInfra revealed.The recent mishap at a Metro site on Andheri-Ghatkopar Road is also expected to affect the timetable . Work on the line has b