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Bombay metro can be built in 7 years, claims study

A preliminary draft report studying the feasibility of a metro railway connecting the 22-kilometre-long stretch between Kurla to Colaba has been complete and submitted to the state and central government for their approval. This ambitious project will be taken up with the help of the private sector, which will play a leading role in financing and providing the necessary technical knowhow to the project.

The feasibility project was completed by Dr Patankar, an eminent expert in the field of transport management with the help of Tata Consultancy Services. Various private sector companies, along with internationally an acclaimed transportation economist from London, Dr M Q Dalvi, and pioneers in the construction of metro railways, Parsons Brinkerhoff Company, participated in this feasibility project approved by the state government, central government, and the railway ministry.

Providing details regarding the project, Dr Patankar said the total cost of the project will amount to Rs 74.64 billion, including a component for inflation. The project will take seven years -- two years for laying the groundwork and five years for construction. There will be no cost overruns or delays as the project is financed by the private sector, said Dr Patankar.

The project will be completed on the basis of build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT). Potential investors are opposed to the 'transfer to the government' as they expect a reasonable rate of return on their investments. The project is expected to break even, within 10 years of its completion, and would earn profits thereafter. The metro will be transferred to the government after a period of 30 years. Three different companies are being considered to look after metro's preparation, construction, and transportation. The last company will involve the government.

The most important feature of the project is that its construction will not affect the road and rail traffic on the surface. A Korean company has expressed its willingness to provide technology to complete the project without digging the roads or impede existing railway traffic. This technology allows construction to be undertaken by digging the soil at three places. Existing structures and buildings on the surface will not be affected, said Dr Patankar. He added that the foundations of the major skyscrapers in the city are not more than five to ten metres deep, and the metro will be constructed at the depth of 15 to 20 metres. Two parallel tracks will be built, separated by a few metres. Moreover, the basaltic composition of rocks in Mumbai further reduce the amount of risk while digging the tunnels, said the expert.

The project will also need an annual amount of Rs 1.88 billion for its maintenance once completed, a major portion of which will be provided by the commuters, according to a separate study. It said that commuters will enjoy a comfortable, air-conditioned journey from Kurla to Colaba for Rs 15, and which will take 30 to 35 minutes. The services will be available for 16 hours a day, the the trains will be running three minutes apart.

The reports are to be submitted to the state government on August 27 and to the central government's urban development department on August 29. The project will be hastened once the the necessary approvals are given.

Reliance Industries has shown a keen interest in the project.

Dr Patankar added a grim warning on delaying the project. "By AD 2010, about 50 per cent of India's population will be staying in cities. We can imagine the situation in Bombay then. Road transport is increasing pollution, while surface rail transport cannot grow further. Bombay has only one option: the metro railway. Irate commuters will keep on targetting and burning local trains unless we solve their problems. While constructing the metro will be a costly exercise, not constructing it will be even costlier," he said.

Compiled from the Indian media