Navi Mumbai Metro works picks up pace, first phase will be completed by December 2018: Cidco

mumbai

Updated: Jul 13, 2017 00:18 IST

The Cidco Metro project that has faced continuous delays has now picked up pace. Officials from CIDCO recently said that they are confident of completing the project by December 2018.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed by 2015.

State governor Vidyasagar Rao in his address in the Assembly in March had announced that the first phase of the Navi Mumbai metro project would be completed in July 2018. Sources in Cidco, however, said that delay in land acquisition and in getting permission for the railway over bridge at Taloja, and inviting tenders again for construction of the stations caused around a year’s delay to the project.

In January, BEML Limited, Bangalore delivered the catenary maintenance vehicle (CMV) to Cidco. With its arrival, work on the systems and technical aspect of the project has picked up pace.

There will be 11 railway stations between the 11-km Belapur and Pendhar route.

Senior public relations officer of Cidco, Mohan Ninawe, said, “We had earlier invited tenders for the construction of the metro stations. However, not many companies responded to it so we had to call for tenders again. We are confident that the construction of the stations will begin soon.”

Ninawe said, “Work on Taloja flyover was stuck as we were waiting for Railways’ permission but now the work is underway.”

He added, “The signalling work has been done and tracks have been laid. Taking into consideration the schedule for the rest of the work, the first phase of the project will be completed by December 2018.”