MUMBAI: The first step towards extending the Metro 3 underground corridor further south from Cuffe Parade till Navy Nagar in Colaba has been taken. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has just invited bids for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR).
Though the 32.5km Metro 3 corridor is called the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line, its final destination till now has been Cuffe Parade. The Navy Nagar station, to be the southern terminus of the corridor, will come up near the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Centre (TIFR). The estimated cost for the extension project will be ascertained only after the DPR, but is expected to be around Rs 2,500 crore. The work will take at least 30 months to complete. Environment and social impact assessments will be carried out as part of the DPR.
“The DPR will be prepared within six months from the date of appointing an agency. Thereafter, project tenders will be invited,” said a senior MMRCL official. The distance between Cuffe Parade and Navy Nagar is about 1.5km. But the line will be extended for 2.5 km to allow for train reversals between the up and down tracks. The Navy had sought the extension as it has around 1 lakh people in the area, including a floating population. The project was announced by the MVA government in March.
