Foundation stone for Navi Mumbai Metro likely on May 1

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) has decided to go ahead with the laying of foundation stone for Navi Mumbai’s first Metro on May 1.

“We will be awarding the letter of intent after getting an approval of the Cidco board on Monday so that work starts immediately. The bhoomi poojan is planned on May 1,” said Tanaji Satre,managing director of Cidco. The agency is also checking whether Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan can do the bhoomi poojan,but it seems unlikely as there are number of programmes planned on account of Maharashtra Day.

The Belapur-Pendhar Metro link will cost around Rs 984 crore and is likely to be completed in three years. The 11-km line will have 11 stations and cover areas of Kharghar. The Cidco has also planned another Metro corridor on the Khandeshwar-Taloja link and has appointed Louis Berger as the consultant for the project.

Unlike the Mumbai Metro corridor,that is being built on PPP model,the Cidco has decided to go ahead with the DMRC model.