The Mumbai Transformation Support Unit (MTSU) says shifting the alignment of the 30.70km long Wadala-Ghatkopar-Mulund-Teen Haat Naka (Thane)-Kasarvadavali partially underground corridor from the LBS road to the Eastern Freeway will help tap the potential ridership of the metro on the Eastern Express Highway and areas flanking it.
The state government's official think-tank for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has suggested a change in the alignment of the proposed Wadala-Ghatkopar-Teen Hath Naka (Thane)-Kasarvadavali metro railway to cover the Eastern Express Highway.
The Mumbai Transformation Support Unit (MTSU) says shifting the alignment of the 30.70km long Wadala-Ghatkopar-Mulund-Teen Haat Naka (Thane)-Kasarvadavali partially underground corridor from the LBS road to the Eastern Freeway will help tap the potential ridership of the metro on the Eastern Express Highway and areas flanking it.
It will also help unlock the development of land located off the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), which is a crucial north-south link connecting Mumbai to Thane. Work on the project is to be undertaken by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
"This will help develop the virgin areas off EEH due to connectivity. So, this will serve as an incentive for people to move there," said BC Khatua, project director, MTSU, adding that they had made suggestions in this regard.
"The elevated metro is not possible on the LBS Marg as there is a pipeline in the middle of the road like the Peddar Road. So, this will necessitate the need to go underground. This will increase the costs," he stated.
"Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is already working on the options on various metro lines including this one. First and foremost is looking into having an underground or elevated corridor," said another senior state bureaucrat.
The official added that various options are being considered and this is one of them. It is only later this year a report on the alignment will be submitted to the MMRDA. DMRC is preparing Detailed Project Report for 118km metro network in the MMR and WGTK metro is one of the alignment in it.
Moreover, the LBS road was located in close proximity to the central railway and the ridership of the two routes would overlap. "The metro on the Eastern Express Highway will give a boost to future development and create housing demand," said Khatua. The DMRC is working on a master plan for the various metro railway networks.
Incidentally, the state government is pushing for the development of the salt pan lands in Mumbai, which are located near the Eastern Express Highway, for affordable housing and creating civic amenities like open spaces.
The state government has appointed a committee under chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya for optimum utilisation of these salt pan lands.
The idea to have metro starting or terminating at Wadala is to create it into a transportation hub and develop it into a business district on the lines of Bandra Kurla Complex. Already, Monorail is partially complete and an Inter State Bus Terminal is proposed at Wadala.
Wadala-Ghatkopar-Teen Hath Naka (Thane)-Kasarvadavali (Metro V)
Length: 30.70
Cost: Rs8,757 crore
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