Mumbai Metro

The Mumbai Metro (Marathi: मुंबई मेट्रो) is a rapid transit system under construction in the Indian city of Mumbai. The system is designed to reduce the rapidly-growing city's congestion problems, and will be built in three phases over a 15-year period, with overall completion expected in 2021. The Mumbai Metro's operator is Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), a joint venture company formed by Reliance Infrastructure, Veolia Transport and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

In June 2006, the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, inaugurated the first phase of the Mumbai Metro project, which will ultimately comprise a three-line high-capacity metro railway system spanning 63 kilometres (39 mi).^[2] Construction work began in February 2008, and the first line of Phase I is expected to be completed in 2012.^[3]

Background

Greater Mumbai is the financial capital of India and the heart of its commercial and trade activities. It is also among the largest cities in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of over 20 million as of 2011,^[4] and a population growth rate of around 2% per annum.^[5] Mumbai has the advantage of a high modal share of the public (88%) in favour of a public mass transport system. The existing Mumbai Suburban Railway carries over 6.94 million passengers every day, and is supplemented by the BEST bus system, which provides feeder services to station-going passengers to allow them to complete their journeys. However, due to the city’s geographical constraints and rapid population growth, road and rail infrastructure development has not been able to keep pace with growing demand over the past several decades.^[6] Moreover, the Mumbai Suburban Railway, though extensive, is not built to rapid transit specifications.

In May 2003, the original Mumbai rapid-transit plan was updated to include an elevated 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) LRT system linking Andheri and Ghatkopar, via Asalpha, Marol, Chakala and Saki Naka. In January 2004, a master plan was unveiled by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The plan encompassed a total of 146 kilometres (91 mi) of track, of which 32 kilometres (20 mi) would be underground. In June 2004, government approval was given for a 13-station elevated light rail line between Ghatkopar and Versova. The foundation-stone-laying ceremony was held on 21 June 2006.

Plan

The main objective of the Mumbai Metro is to provide mass rapid transit services to people within an approach distance of between 1 and 2 kilometres, and to serve the areas not connected by the existing Suburban Rail network. The Mumbai Metro is to be built in three phases, at a total cost of 36,000 crore (US$6.84 billion).^[7] The eight lines of the system are projected to have a total length of approximately 146 kilometres (91 mi).^[8]

Further plans

In 2011, the MMRDA unveiled plans for an extended Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ metro line. According to its earlier plans, a 20-km Colaba-to-Bandra metro line was to be constructed, running underground for 10 kilometres from Colaba to Mahalaxmi, and then on an elevated track from Mahalaxmi to Bandra. However, the MMRDA decided that extending the line through Bandra to the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport would increase the number of commuters.

The 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-Andheri line will be built at a cost of 16,810 crore, and will be Mumbai's first fully underground metro line. It will connect business districts such as Nariman Point, BKC, MIDC and SEEPZ with the International Airport.^[9] The line is planned to have a total of 27 stations.^[10]

Construction

Phase I

Phase I of the metro project will be implemented on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis for a 35-year period. This phase includes the construction of three metro lines. The 2,356 crore (US$447.64 million) contract for the Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar corridor was secured by a consortium led by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, along with Veolia Transport Co. and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Simplex Infrastractures Ltd, the main technical contractor. Work on the 11-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, a part of Phase I, began on 8 February 2008. In September 2011, MMOPL officials claimed that trial runs on the first section of the corridor, the 3-kilometre Versova–DN Nagar–Azad Nagar stretch, would start by February 2012, with a view to opening the stretch to commuters by March or April 2012.^[11] By October 2011, the majority of the corridor's track-support pillars and girders had been laid, and the twelve individual stations were 70% complete, with most of the stations rising above platform level.^[12] However, land acquisition and right-of-way issues, along with problems with the construction of a Metro-related viaduct, delayed the line's predicted completion to summer 2012.^[12][13] Trial runs for the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line are expected to begin in August 2012, while commercial operations are planned to begin in November 2012.^[14] The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line had an initial construction cost of 2,356 crore (US$447.64 million).^[15]

The next corridor to be built in the first phase will be the 32-km Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route, which will have 27 stations. The MMRDA has appointed Reliance Infrastructure to carry out this phase of the project, which is expected to cost 8,250 crore (US$1.57 billion).^[16]

Technology

Rolling stock

RIIL consulted a number of major international rolling stock builders to provide the train fleet for the Mumbai Metro. Bidders for the contract included established metro-vehicle manufacturers such as Kawasaki, Alstom, Siemens and Bombardier, but CSR Nanjing of China was ultimately chosen to supply rolling stock.^[17] In May 2008, CSR Nanjing constructed 16 trains of 4 cars each for a total fee of 6 billion (US$114 million).One 4-car train has been delivered and two more trains are awaiting custon clearance at nhava sheva port as of december 2011^[18]

The coaches will be air-conditioned and designed to reduce noise and vibration, and will feature both high seating capacity and ample space for standing passengers. They will be outfitted with a number of features for safety and convenience, including LCD screens, 3D route maps, first-aid kits, wheelchair facilities, fire-fighting equipment and intercom systems permitting communication with the train driver. Each coach will furthermore feature a black box to assist in accident investigations.^[12] The trains will be capable of carrying over 1,100 passengers in a four-car unit.

Power

The Swiss-Swedish ABB Group was awarded the contract for supplying power systems to Line 1 of the Mumbai Metro. ABB will be responsible for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the traction electrification, power supply, power distribution and SCADA system for the first metro corridor.^[19]

Signaling and communications

The Mumbai Metro will feature an advanced signaling system, including an automatic train protection system (ATPS) and automated signaling to control train movements on the 11-km Line 1. A four-minute service interval is anticipated on the route.^[1]

Siemens will supply the signaling systems required for the project, while Thales Group will supply the Metro's communication systems. The network's signaling and train control systems will be based on LZB 700M technology.^[19]

Operations

Capacity and frequency

During peak hours, up to sixteen trains, with four to six coaches each, will ferry around 25,000 passengers per hour on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line. Travel time from Versova to Ghatkopar is expected to be approximately 21 minutes.^[12]

Fares

The Mumbai Metro is expected to have a three-tier fare structure based on journey distances:

• 6 – up to 3 km
• 8 – between 3 km and 8 km
• 10 – beyond 8 km

Fares will be fixed by the Government of Maharashtra through a notification. 11% fare increases will reportedly take place every fourth year.^[20]

See also

• List of rapid transit systems
• Transport in India
• Rail transport in India
• Rapid transit in India
• Public transport in Mumbai

References

External links

• Mumbai Metro Official Site
• Mumbai Metro Rail Project
• Mumbai Metro Blog site
• Mumbai Metro is finally cleared
• New metro rail project for Mumbai
• Mumbai Metro Discussion forum
• Mumbai Metro Map with proposed lines
• Mumbai Metro Google Mashup