Even as the builders of the citys first metro rail corridor continue to maintain that the work on the line would be completed by the year-end,experts have claimed that the commissioning of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor may be delayed. According to them,the designs of a steel bridge at Andheri is yet to get final approval and the Right of Way between Saki Naka and Ghatkopar has not been handed over for the construction so far. When contacted,Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said,Were trying to finish the work by December-end. If it is delayed,we will still be able to finish the project well within the deadline of 2012-end as per the agreement. The Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL),formed by the Reliance Infrastructure,MMRDA and Veolia Transport,has received an in principal approval from the railway authorities on the designs and has started shifting the utilities for piling. According to MMOPL,it may take around 10 months to construct the bridge. The work was delayed as the designs of the bridge had to be altered twice owing to the proposed elevated corridor of the railways. Therefore,in a bid to save time we have started shifting the utilities on both ends,which is time-consuming. Weve already asked the railway authorities to shift its signalling cables and awaiting the final approval for the designs, said K P Maheshwari,director of MMOPL. The MMOPL had redesigned the bridge to avert disturbances caused to a mosque in Andheri west and demolition of a foot-over-bridge between Andheri East and west.
