Andheri –Versova- Ghatkopar Route under construction

Ghatkopar Station:   

There are 12 stations on CBM route (and in high rise category) only 3 stations are visible above road level

A massive station embedded in-between existing structures with virtually no open space in the middle of narrow road, where NOC from fire brigade has been rejected for probable danger to human lives and property

Nitin Killawala Reply: COST OF METRO RAIL

Media Report: Times of India, DNA& HT - 18th Sept, 2010

COST OF METRO RAIL

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Metro-protesters-to-march-in-2-groups/articleshow/6575906.cms

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_despite-complaints-by-residents-metro-plan-will-go-ahead-unchanged_1439542

Reply to Media

There is no denying that the Metro Rail Projects are the most expensive mode of transport infrastructure, whether Elevated or Underground, in any part of the world. We are not questioning the validity of the project at this stage but accepting the construction of Metro Rail in  Mumbai.

However, Metro Rail Projects are not profit making ventures. Such projects from cost point of view are a fate accompli.  When you fight a war, is there any financial parameters to invade or defend an enemy ? Or in a natural calamity there cannot be cost as a focal point to restore the normalcy. What is important is appropriation of funds and finance resources. MMRDA has neither accountability nor any serious concerns about the budget or the cost.

Mr. Ratnakar Gaikwad as reported in the media today, 32 kms. of Elevated Metro for CBM route should cost Rs. 6,400 crores (@ Rs. 200 crores per km.) whereas Underground Metro according to him is three times costlier i.e. around Rs. 20,000 crores. Reliance  Infra has already committed to spend Rs. 11,000 crores for the same route while  signing of the contract in August 2009.

As reported, the  additional cost of Rs. 56000 cores as published in the media today is misleading.  For whatever reasons if the cost is three times then government should construct 30% of underground metro which can be expanded gradually.

Metro is not like buying a 1BKH apartment, because you cannot afford 2BHK apartment. Metro Rails are designed for atleast a 100 years with the best technologies and integrated with other mode of transport.

Public transport is the State’s responsibility to provide quick and comfortable mobility to citizens. The cost of investment is not for profiteering but for the cost benefit of several generations.

Moreover, Mr. Gaikwad states that he doesn’t find space for switch-over ramps (about ½ km. stretch at either ends) for Underground Metro which we as citizens do not accept. But the government has access of destroying over 100 km. of our developed roads and disrupt the entire city, which is irreversible.

Therefore the only option is  Underground Metro Rail.

Nitin Killawala : Architect

Nitin Killawala Reply - METROLINE – 1st TO COMMENCE FROM AUGUST 2011

Media Report: DNA -21st Sept, 2010

METROLINE – 1st    TO COMMENCE FROM AUGUST 2011

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-i-will-hit-the-mumbai-tracks-in-august-2011_1440852

Reply to Media                                                                                                           

As expected the December 2010 deadline is now officially pushed to August 2011.

It is an irony that the government officials get away with such misleading statements with the support of the media, only to get sympathy from innocent citizens. There is no provision in the system to penalize these bureaucrats for deliberate under-estimation of time and costs.

Mrs. Ashwini Bhide (Jt. Metropolitan Commissioner) as reported in today’s DNA and other dailies that “trials would begin by March 2011 and actual operations by August next year”. Although she further claims that “the complicated bridge over Andheri Rail Station will take alteast another eight months” which means not before May 2011 ! It needs only common sense that project can’t be on track even with the extended time.

She also claims “stations such as Ghatkopar, Asalpha, WEH and Andheri are more or less on schedule” which is once again deliberate misinformation. In any case there is no visible sign of remaining eight stations –

1.   Versova

2.   D.N. Nagar

3.   Azad Nagar

4.   Chakala

5.   Airport Road

6.   Marol Naka

7.   Sakinaka         and

8.   Subhash Nagar

The concern for us is not just false hopes which Media generates but the government is all set to pay thousands of crores of rupees of our money by way of damages to the Concessionaire for these types of known delays. And dumping us in lurch, forever.

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Nitin Killawala : Architect

Viren Shah: what about thousands of crores used for Common Wealth Games?is that financial viable for our country?if CWG is viable then why not underground Metro Lines?

To The,

Honorable Chief Minster

Maharashtra.

Respected Sir,

Our federation supports to protest against elevated route of the Mumbais Metros second line.As we all know that Metro is good for commuters and it will also ease the traffic problems of our city but not at the cost of inconvenience to thousands of  residence and commercial  unit getting affected throughout their life time.

We strongly condemn MMRDA s decision of  going for elevated Metro whereas it can go underground as per expert opinion by which noise pollution and traffic will also be reduced considerably rather then elevated route.Just because its not financially viable?what about thousands of crores used for Common Wealth Games?is that financial viable for our country?if CWG is viable then why not underground Metro Lines?

After all it is for the mumbaikars welfare only.

Why to make thousands of life miserable just for financial viable?Difficult to digest such anti public move by the MMRDA Commissioner.Sooner the MMRDA change its stand better for Mumbais infrastructures which is  already under severe pressure due to rampant construction activities going on in Mumbai city.

MMRDA s skywalk project is also total failure and waste of public fund and by making city road more congested.Skywalks are not also used by most of the  commuters due to no elevators or escalators facilities in any of skywalk and now its occupied by beggars,anti social element and  encroachers during monsoon for their shelter.There is no securities also provided on skywalk for commuters safety.Skywalk was not required if hawkers were remove from footpath all over mumbai railway stations.

How MMRDA expects old and senior citizens to climb up and down 2 floors of skywalk?is that  viable for them?crores of rupees of public funds have been wasted instead it  should have been used to make railway staircases into escalators/lifts which would have benefited lakhs of  handicapped/senior citizens tremendously.

Mr Ratnakar Gaikward is not fit to hold such an important post and he is not  even public friendly neither he listens to the problems  of affected people nor he understand or  comes out with a practical solutions for our mumbai city.

Mumbai city needs more people friendly and practical commissioner who understands problems of our city and its infrastructure development without putting mumbaikar into hardship for life time.

 our members also had to suffer due to unnecessary skywalks all over city and now due  elevated metros in suburb.

We request your good-self to re look at the proposal of of Elevated Metro line and make into underground Metro.

for Federation Of Retail Traders Welfare Association

viren shah

President

Nitin Killawala Reply - Altered Metro Routes will reduce project costs - DNA

Media Report

“Altered Metro Routes will reduce project costs” – HT dtd. 15^th September 2010

“MMRDA hopeful of more central funds for Mumbai Metro” – DNA 15^th September 2010

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mmrda-hopeful-of-more-central-funds-for-mumbai-metro_1438080

Reply to Media

 MMRDA and media always knew that Metro projects are highly capital intensive. That is one of the reasons to implement such infrastructure projects where maximum finance jugglery is possible yet unnoticeable.

Eliminating a miniscule 3.5 kms. route from about 150 kms. route is nothing more than the cosmetic changes which is part and parcel of any such infrastructure projects.

Nowhere in the world Metro projects are profitable – it is a state’s responsibility to provide safe and comfortable mobility to commuters. Even in Delhi and Kolkata, metro projects are hugely subsidized by respective state governments.

 For some strange reasons Metros in Mumbai is therefore proposed on PPP model.

Our concern is this model is deliberate attempt for bankruptcy and we shall have to pay very heavy price for several generations.

Therefore we have to be careful that the basic interest of cost effective public transport shall not remain unrealized or compromised.

Nitin Killawala - Architect