Metro Phase II: Central Railways wants a realignment in Kurla

The first Metro rail corridor may be on track,but fresh spots of bother have cropped up for the proposed second route.

The first Metro rail corridor may be on track,but fresh spots of bother have cropped up for the proposed second route. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA),in charge of procuring requisite clearances from various agencies for the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd rail corridor,is yet to get the Central Railways clearance for a portion of the corridor that is slated to come up over the Kurla railway line.

The CR has some reservations regarding the alignment. They have told us that they have some proposals and we have informed them that we can accommodate their proposal and get back, said G R Madan,Director,Mass Rapid Transit System,MMRDA.

There is nothing to panic. We will take the discussion to higher officials of the Railways, he said,adding that the clearances would be obtained.

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The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor had also faced difficulties getting clearances for a stretch over suburban line at Andheri. The nod was given only recently after considerable delay.

As per the current alignment,the stretch of the corridor crossing Kurla will be 200 metres and pass over 14 tracks. To expedite clearances,the MMRDA has set up a single window for the second Metro corridor. The development authority is yet to get clearances for Metro depots at Charkop and Mankhurd bevause of CRZ issues. According to MMRDAs estimates,the construction of the Rs 11,500-crore corridor would take another three months to start. Reliance Infrastructure Ltd-led consortium is constructing the corridor which is expected to be operational by 2014.

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