Green light for lines 7A and 9

The Maharashtra state cabinet has approved two Rs.6,607 crore Metro projects for Mumbai, for which funds will be raised.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is to raise funds for the 13.581 km lines which would link the airport to suburban rail/metro network and extend the Metro network to neighboring city of Mira Bhayandar.

The Cabinet approved Dahisar-Mira Bhayander route, Metro line 9, and Metro 7A that is extension of Metro line 7 to connect Andheri and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport.

The 10.41-km Dahisar-Mira Bhayander route will and will have 11 stations along the elevated corridor.

The 3.71 km Andheri-CSMI airport Metro 7A will run 2.11 km underground, the official added.

The Metro line 9 is expected to cut down the commuting time between the two neighboring cities by 40 minutes. The project is scheduled for completion by 2022.

Currently Mumbai has one operational Metro line while four others are in various stages of construction.

With the two lines the state government has approved in all five lines while one more is in tendering stage.

This adds up to in all 10 lines with a combined length of 264 km and over Rs.1 lakh crore of investment.

Two of the Metro lines currently under construction are expected to be operational by next year. fiinews.com