97% tunneling work completed on the fully underground Colaba-SEEPZ Metro line in Mumbai
Over 1.6 million passengers to be benefitted
The Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation(MMRC) Ltd, Ranjit Singh Deol said that nearly 52.60 kms of the 54.50 km double line (up/down) has been tunneled. With this accomplishment, around 97% of the tunneling work is complete. The fully underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 line is being set up under the stretches of land surrounding Mithi River and Mahim Creek.
It has been stated that 27 stations will be constructed on this line and 26 of them will be built below the ground. Besides, the metro line will have 6 junction points for interchanging at prominent locations on the way. Proposed to be built at an approximate cost of Rs 23,136 crore, this metro line will be functional by mid-2022. Further, it is expected that over 1.60 million passengers will be benefitted on a daily basis, once this metro route is operational.
Challenging breakthrough achieved in a period of 257 days
The MD stated that the breakthrough at Mahalaxmi Metro Station was completed by the tunnel boring machine Tansa-2 with the deployment of 745 concrete rings in a period of 257 days. "This was a challenging task as this stretch from the Science Museum Metro Station to Mahalaxmi Metro Station encompasses tunneling below the buildings which are more than 80 years old and live Western Railway tracks between Mahalaxmi-Lower Parel railway stations," he said.
The latest intervention has been worked out on the longest package 3 of the project. This network includes Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk, and Worli metro stations. Notably, the stretch has been marked with 3 major breakthroughs so far, propelled by continuous efforts.
3 metro lines to be functional by 2022 end
Additionally, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has put its best foot forward to assure accelerated interventions across other metro lines in different areas. Once the 3 new lines are commissioned by the end of 2022, the daily commuters will be benefitted from new ways of easy and comfortable travel. Besides, the traffic load on the city roads and the two highways will be relaxed too.
- With inputs from IANS
