MMRC changes route alingment for Mumbai Metro Line 11

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRC) has unveiled a revised alignment map for Mumbai Metro Line 11, a key development in the city's metro expansion. This update, dating back to June 2024, aims to optimize the line’s utility and enhance ridership. The revision follows the Maharashtra Urban Development Department's decision in January 2023 to entrust the execution of Line 11 to MMRC.

Mumbai Metro Line 11, an extension of Line 4 (Green Line), will be the city's third underground metro line after Line 3 (Aqua Line) and Line 7A (Red Line). Initially, Line 11 was planned as a 12.77 km route connecting Wadala to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) with 10 stations (2 elevated and 8 underground). However, the new alignment now proposes a central route south of Byculla, extending to SPM Chowk near the Gateway of India in Colaba’s Apollo Bandar.

The revised alignment map included in MMRC's tender notice outlines a new route that passes through major urban areas, including Nagpada, Bhendi Bazar, CSMT, and Fort, before reaching SPM Chowk. The updated route extends approximately 16 km with 15 planned stations at:

• Anik Bus Depot
• Wadala Depot
• CGS Colony
• Ganesh Nagar
• BPT Hospital
• Sewri
• Hay Bunder
• Coal Bunder
• Reay Road
• Byculla
• Nagpada Junction
• Bhendi Bazaar
• Crawford Market
• CSMT Metro (interchange with Line-3 / Aqua Line)
• Horniman Circle
• SPM Circle

The revised alignment is designed to meet several strategic objectives, such as boosting ridership and enhancing connectivity to key areas in South Mumbai. The new route south of Byculla to SPM Chowk is expected to serve densely populated and commercially significant regions, thereby improving the line’s utility. The revised alignment also enhances integration with existing transport networks, particularly at major interchange points like CSMT.

The projected construction cost for Line 11 has now increased to Rs. 16,000 crore, nearly double the Rs. 8739 crore estimated in the original Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2018. Despite the increased cost, the project has attracted interest from international financial bodies, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has previously expressed interest in providing an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan for Line 11.

While the revised alignment marks significant progress, several critical steps remain before construction can commence. These steps include securing financing, preparing detailed designs, and appointing a General Consultant. Additionally, consultants for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA), and geotechnical investigations must be appointed. Following these preparatory steps, the civil tendering process will begin, with construction expected to start no sooner than 2027.

In preparation for construction, MMRC has invited bids for an underground utility survey for the revised alignment. The tender, which closed on June 14, 2024, includes a detailed scope of work:

• Survey Methods: Utilizing Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) to map underground utilities up to a depth of 5 meters.
• Utility Mapping: Detailed mapping of RCC/metallic pipelines, sewer, gas, water, petroleum and chemical pipelines, HV and LV power cables, telecommunications ducts and cables, and other buried utilities.
• Data Collection: Gathering information from relevant organizations, including facility names, locations, types, and utility sizes.
• Reporting: Preparing detailed survey drawings, reports, site photographs, and other reference materials in both hardcopy and softcopy formats.
• Depth Measurement: Providing depth measurements of subsurface features from the surface, with results presented in color hardcopies and Excel sheets.
• Comprehensive Write-Up: Documenting the entire survey procedure, including field observations, device settings, parameter selections, and post-processing methods, in a 3000-word report.

The publication of the revised alignment map for Mumbai Metro Line 11 is a significant milestone in the city's metro development. The new route promises to enhance connectivity, increase ridership, and seamlessly integrate with existing transportation networks. With substantial preparatory work underway and international funding interest, Line 11 is set to become a vital component of Mumbai's urban infrastructure. As the project progresses towards its anticipated construction start in 2027, residents and stakeholders can look forward to a more efficient and connected future for Mumbai's public transportation system.