Maharashtra Approves ₹8,535 Crore Mumbai Metro Line 10 Project

Mumbai Metro Line 10, a 9.676 km long project, has been granted revised approval by the Maharashtra government. The project will connect Gaimukh to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Mira Road and will have five elevated stations.

The total estimated cost of the project is ₹8,535.49 crore, with ₹7,813.35 crore allocated for the Metro component and ₹715.96 crore for widening the 5.4-km stretch of Ghodbunder Road to 60 metres.

The project will be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and will be funded through a combination of external loans and state government subsidies. The government has approved the use of external loans of up to ₹6,255.62 crore from bilateral, multilateral and other financial institutions at concessional interest rates.

The state government will provide ₹1,004.23 crore as interest-free subordinate debt towards the cost of land, state taxes and 50 per cent of Central government taxes. An additional ₹109.21 crore in interest-free subordinate debt has been approved towards taxes arising from the Ghodbunder Road widening component.

The alignment of Metro Line 10 passes through the Thane-Ghodbunder corridor and requires various statutory clearances, including from the Forest, Environment, CRZ and Wildlife authorities. The earlier underground portion of 0.68 km has now been proposed as an entirely elevated stretch to reduce tree cutting and shorten the construction period.

The widening of Ghodbunder Road has been incorporated into the project to address the expected traffic congestion during Metro construction. The road, which is currently narrow and winding at several locations, will be widened to 60 metres between Gaimukh and Fountain Hotel.

The approved project is scheduled to be implemented over five years, with the project period specified as April 2025 to March 2030 from the commencement of construction. It will require 3.73 hectares of land permanently and 4.40 hectares temporarily.

The government has also approved Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) for the Metro corridor in principle and authorised MMRDA to undertake commercial development of land associated with Metro stations, subject to applicable rules. MMRDA has been designated as the Special Planning Authority for the project.

The project will also include integration of bus and railway stations with Metro services. MMRDA has been directed to submit a time-bound implementation programme to the state government within 15 days. The project will also be scrutinised under the PM Gati Shakti initiative through the Network Planning Group.

The Mumbai Metro Line 10 project is expected to improve the connectivity and transportation infrastructure in the region, reducing traffic congestion and promoting economic growth. With its approval, the project is set to become a major milestone in the development of Mumbai's transportation network.

In terms of significance, the project is a crucial step towards improving the quality of life for residents in the region, providing them with a faster, more efficient and reliable mode of transportation. It will also have a positive impact on the local economy, creating new opportunities for businesses and jobs.

Overall, the approval of the Mumbai Metro Line 10 project is a significant development for the city, and its implementation is expected to have a major impact on the region's transportation infrastructure and economy.