By Ashley Karen
MMRC (the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation) is all set to begin the first phase – Aarey to BKC – of the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 Corridor in 2023.
Ashwini Bhide, MD, MMRC claimed: “We will roll the first phase of Metro Line-3 from Aarey to BKC, this 2023. MMRC received all eight coaches of the second train only yesterday which will be assembled and put to trial runs soon. It is also significant to note that the first train has already undergone all dynamic and static tests through trial runs of more than 1,500 km. Successfully.”
The second 8-coach train, manufactured in the Alstom Plant, Sri City, Andhra Pradesh as well, reached Mumbai on 29 December 2022. It will experience the crucial compulsory tests in a five km stretch between the ramp at Sariput Nagar and Sahar.
All eight coaches, weighing 42-tonne each, have crossed 1,400 km, from Andhra Pradesh, in ten days by special 8-axelled trailers with 64 wheels.
As MMRC reported, there have been a few significant milestones that they acquired in 2022.
Mr. S. K. Gupta, Director (Projects), MMRC, stated: “MMRC completed the entire tunnelling of 54.5-km – up and down line – on 30 November, 2022. We required 17 tunnel boring machines (TBM) and 1,700 workmen to complete 100 per cent tunnelling for the 33.5-km long corridor.”
2,86,000 cubic meters of concrete and 29,500 metric tons of steel were used totally for the tremendous task. Furthermore, 50 per cent of track laying work has been finished.
A. A. Bhatt, Director (Systems), MMRC, declared: “The train trials with various tests – static and dynamic – are going on very regularly. 53 per cent of Overhead Contact System (OCS), installation of 88 per cent of Power Supply System has been completed. Besides this progress, in all 105 escalators, 19 lifts, 10 Platform Screen Doors and 12 Passenger Information Display systems have been installed at various stations and the work is in full swing.”
Speaking of Metro Line 3, it is a 33.5 km long underground corridor operating along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ. The corridor length is characterized by 27 critical stations, out of which 26 are said to be underground.
As reported, this line will link Mumbai’s crucial financial hubs, such as Nariman Point, Bandra-Kurla-Complex, Fort, Worli, Lower Parel, Goregaon, etc. The metro will provide connectivity to the airport, Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade, Kalbadevi, Worli, BKC, Airport, SEEPZ and MIDC for the first time.
Moreover, two vital heritage stations of Mumbai, i.e., CSTM and Churchgate, will join through the alignment as well.
