Raise FSI near stations: Ajit - Times of India

Raise FSI near stations: Ajit

TNN Dec 14, 2013, 01.27AM IST

MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar wants higher floor space index (FSI) around the city's railway stations.

The senior NCP politician made the suggestion on Friday. "Such a move will reduce congestion and pollution. Why can't we think along these lines when we have started building new Metro rail stations?" he said.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday supported the idea of higher floor space index (FSI) such as up to 10-15 around the railway stations in Mumbai on the lines of the one consumed in other major cities across the world.

This according to Pawar would help reduce traffic, overall congestion, pollution. "Why can't we think on these lines when we have already started building new metro rail stations in Mumbai and looking into the needs of urbanisation in the megacity," he said.

While interacting with media Pawar said possibility of hiked FSI around stations should be explored to deal with increasing urbanization as had been done in America and Europe.

"Many foreign countries have used FSI up to 15 by upgrading the resources needed for urban settlements," he added. Replying to a query over the political issues, Pawar said the final decision on alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections would be decided by party supremo Sharad Pawar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. "If state Congress leaders want to contest all the 48 seats independently, then they can go ahead," he said.

When asked about the issue of regularizing illegal constructions under the new cluster policy in Mumbai and other cities, he said, "It outright regularization of all illegal constructions was not possible as strengthening civic amenities and public safety were key priorities for the government". Ajit supported doling out concessions to promote affordable housing and make projects commercially viable and attractive, government will explore the scope within the legal framework," he added. To a query regarding seat sharing for the general election, Ajit said NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress president Sonia Gandhi would decide on the distribution. -Chittaranjan Tembhekar

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-14/mumbai/45189295_1_ajit-pawar-sharad-pawar-railway-stations

Call it Mumbai Metro, not Reliance Metro: MMRDA to Rinfra - DNA

Call it Mumbai Metro, not Reliance Metro: MMRDA to Rinfra

Thursday, Jan 2, 2014, 7:11 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

DNA Correspondent
  

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) seems to have put its foot down by asking Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra)-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) to change metro rail logo and name from “Reliance Metro” to “Mumbai Metro”.
“On December 31, we have sent a letter to RInfra, asking them to change the logo of metro rail from Reliance Metro to Mumbai Metro,” revealed Dilip Kawathkar, spokesperson for the development authority.
According to MMRDA authorities, the demand is well within the concession agreement signed between the state government and RInfra as the fine print states that the project should be titled as ‘Mumbai Metro’, which the MMOPL has been ignoring.
On May 4, 2013, dna had reported about the dispute over logo and refusal by RInfra to change its name.
When contacted, an MMOPL spokesperson said, “We have not received any such official communication from MMRDA. Display of the brand name of the promoter of the company, which includes Reliance and MMRDA, is well within the contract conditions and industry practice.”
According to RTI activist Anil Galgali, who has been trying for rectification of logo and project name, metro rail is a public-private partnership and like ‘Mumbai Monorail’, this too should be called ‘Mumbai Metro’. The logo has to change to ‘Mumbai Metro’, no other name is acceptable, he maintains.

Mumbai Metro on slow track, cost up 84% to Rs4,321 crore - Times of India

Mumbai Metro on slow track, cost up 84% to Rs4,321 crore

MONEYLIFE DIGITAL TEAM | 03/09/2013 03:23 PM 
The cost of the delayed Versova—Andheri—Ghatkopar Metro project rose 84% to Rs4,321 crore. Although the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One is going to miss its seventh deadline this September, the company is seeking to hike the fare to substantiate increased project cost

Repeated delays and rising cost of raw material has caused construction cost of the Mumbai Metro project to shoot up by 84%. It is now going to cost Rs4,321 crore, up from its original cost of Rs2,356 crore. The project was scheduled for completion in March 2012, but remains "work in progress," according to Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chauhan. The 12km long Versova- Andheri-Ghatkopar metro project is going to miss its seventh deadline, which was on September 2013, and is now scheduled to be completed early next year.

Right to Information (RTI) Activist Anil Galgali, who is closely following the progress of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and state government projects, filed an RTI application seeking information on cost escalation and other issues. The response to his RTI query reveals many facts.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) of MMRDA, in his reply stated, "In meeting held on May 2012, Board members had approved a revised budget of Metro project cost aroundRs4,321 crore. The MMRDA will not share the additional cost. MMRDA will only consider original cost of Rs2,356 for project and its cost sharing formula would be the same in 70:30 ratio as per the agreement signed between government of Maharashtra and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL)."

As per the agreement, the state government's share in the project was Rs1,194 crore while the rest Rs512 was to be paid by MMOPL. MMOPL is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up for the project between MMRDA, Reliance Energy Ltd (now Reliance Infra), and Veolia Transport of France. Reliance Infra holds 69% (Rs354 crore) in the SPV, while MMRDA holds 26% (Rs133 crore) and Veolia the remaining 5% (Rs25 crore) stake in MMOPL. The viability cost funding in the original project was Rs650 crore. While the union government was expected to pay Rs471 crore, the MMRDA was to bear Rs179 crore out of this viability cost funding. In short, as per the original project cost, MMRDA's was expected to pick-up a tab of Rs312 crore for the metro.

Although, the MMRDA has approved revised budget for the project, it had not specified about sharing the additional cost in the MMOPL, the SPV for the project. So this brings forth an important question as to who will then bear the additional burden?

Galgali says, "It is full responsibility of MMOPL to complete project within the deadline. The deadline is extended for seven times and the government should not sanction a single paisa increase to MMOPL and instruct MMRDA to get the metro ready at the earliest".

"MMOPL is keeping everyone in the dark. Even Reliance Infra is not in a position to state the reason behind the cost escalation. This indicates MMOPL's lack of planning and unfortunately the MMRDA has been very soft on MMOPL," Galgali alleged.

He also slammed MMOPL's decision to let Reliance Infra use its name on the coaches for the metro. On this issue, MMRDA in its reply to the RTI application confirmed that the name put up by Reliance Infra on coaches is permitted neither by the Authority nor by the state government.

Reliance Infrastructure-led MMOPL has failed to complete this project before deadlines due to many factors such as changes in designs, rupee depreciation, space crunch, utility shifting and getting approvals, litigations, addition of extra coaches and delay in receiving permission from Indian Railways.

MMOPL has approached the state government as well as the MMRDA seeking revision in ticketfares due to an increase in construction cost and purchasing extra rakes with an expectation of high ridership. The present fares are: Rs6 up to first 3km, Rs8 between 3km to 8km and Rs10 for more than 8km. The demand by MMOPL is to increase the fares up to Rs35. However for time being, this issue will not touched by the state government.

The first phase of Mumbai Metro rail project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in June 2006. Mumbai Metro is the India's first public private partnership metro project in which all the three phases of construction, operation and maintenance have been given to a private players.
 
http://www.moneylife.in/article/mumbai-metro-on-slow-track-cost-up-84-to-rs4321-crore/34338.html

Future metro lines in city may be underground - HT - 13/2/13

Future metro lines in city may be underground

Ketaki Ghoge, Hindustan Times

Mumbai, February 13, 2013

The first corridor of the Mumbai metro is likely to be the only elevated line, with the state planning to build underground lines for the other proposed corridors. Despite the higher cost involved in building 

underground lines, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) does not want to build elevated lines to avoid the problems of land acquisition, encroachment, traffic dispersion, and the resulting delays in time and cost.

"Other than the eastern suburbs, which have less congested areas, the ground realities of other parts of the city are such that an underground metro would be the way forward," said MMRDA chief Rahul Asthana.

The empowered committee on Mumbai Makeover, chaired by chief secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia, was also of the same view in its meeting in January.

While the first metro corridor, Versova-Andheri-Ghatko-par, is expected to be open for public next year, the contract for the second metro corridor, Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd, is likely to get terminated due to delays. "If the contract is scra-pped, we will consider extending this line to Dahisar. We will also rethink on the decision to go elevated and chose a complete underground route," said a senior government official.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Future-metro-lines-in-city-may-be-underground/Article1-1010862.aspx

MMRDA to Scrap Contract for 2nd Metro Line

Dear Friends

 

It appears that finally authorities have reconciled about the flawed CBM Metro Line (2) and decided to scrap the project.

Attached is a report in today's Hindustan Times.

Hope now they seriously reconsider option for the Underground Metro.

Regards,

Nitin Killawala.

Mumbai metro to miss CM's March 2013 deadline - DNA

Mumbai metro to miss CM's March 2013 deadline

Monday, Jan 7, 2013, 2:00 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Akshay Deshmane  

The city's metro project is being overseen by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, a public agency, and its implementation is handled by Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, a private firm.

Your ride on Mumbai’s metro is still a while away. Though chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had said last year that part of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro route would be thrown open to the public in March this year, officials at the ground level said the time given by the chief minister was ‘too optimistic’.
The city’s metro project is being overseen by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, a public agency, and its implementation is handled by Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, a private firm. While officials of the public agency say December 2013 seems a plausible time, those from the private firm pegged it around mid-2013.
A senior official of the public agency said that critical jobs like roofing of stations, electrical and telecommunication work were still pending. “The metro could be open to public by December 2013,” the official told DNA on the condition that this newspaper not name him.
An official of the public agency said that the original plan to run services between Versova and Airport road station near Sahar for connectivity to the airport has been shelved... the entire route [up to Ghatkopar] will be started at one go.
The implementing agency’s officials said that the tentative deadline is “mid-2013” if necessary clearances are received on time. “Once we get the clearances, the entire corridor will be open by mid-2013,” said its official, without specifying a month.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-mumbai-metro-to-miss-cms-march-2013-deadline-1786343

Metro’s second line project may get derailed - Times of India - 17th Sept

Metro’s second line project may get derailed

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 17, 2012, 06.19AM IST

MUMBAI: The 2016 deadline for the Metro's second line, even officials associated with it admit, is a will-o'-the-wisp, impossible to catch. Three years after then president Pratibha Patil attended a bhoomi pujan, launching the project, no work on it has begun. Indeed, such are the obstacles in its path that many believe Metro-II may end up a non-starter.

Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) got the task to build the 32-km elevated Metro line from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra in August 2010. The company was recently warned by MMRDA of action if it failed to start work at the earliest. But RInfra officials claim the reason for the delay is the government itself, which has been unable to obtain permissions and acquire land.

RInfra official point out that no environmental clearance has been received to build car depots on CRZ land in Mankhurd and Charkop, except on stilts, which is costly. Also, washing of cars at the depots, even if on stilts, has been prohibited. There are other problems. No land has been identified for the casting yard and the civil aviation ministry has not given its consent to the stretch near the Juhu airport.

"No rights have been awarded to commercially exploit the areas along the route, as per the agreement, because the government is yet to modify the development control regulations. Further, extra high voltage electricity networks at 13 locations have not been shifted," said a source.

Senior architect P K Das said building an elevated Metro in a city like Mumbai is an ill-conceived idea. "A dense, congested city, with high pollution and lack of open spaces, cannot afford an elevated route," he said. "Lessons should be learnt from Metro-I, where lack of space not only delayed the project but also put safety at risk. The government should immediately cancel the elevated Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro line and build it underground."

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-17/mumbai/33901972_1_metro-ii-rinfra-juhu-airport

MMRDA mum on trees felled for Metro project - Mumbai Mirror Sept 22

MMRDA mum on trees felled for Metro project

BMC accuses state infrastructure body of not providing information on replacement of green cover

Chaitanya Marpakwar

- Posted On Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 04:37:52 AM

Ever since work began on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro corridor in 2008, Mumbai's green cover has shrunk by 900 trees. However, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which is undertaking the rapid transit system, seems to have little idea about its plan to compensate for the trees chopped. The BMC's tree authority, the apex body for matters pertaining to trees in the city, has accused the MMRDA of ignoring its requests to provide information on the status of transplantation, and plantation of new trees. As per the rules laid down by the civic body, any person, organisation or government agency seeking to cut trees for infrastructure projects has to either transplant the uprooted trees or plant twice the number of trees chopped. With no information coming in from the state infra body for the past three months, BMC Commissioner Sitaram Kunte has stepped in to seek a detailed report in the matter. "I have written to the MMRDA asking it to furnish a report on the plantation and transplantation of trees undertaken by it as against the 900 trees claimed by the project. Since the tree authority had demanded the information, I have asked the MMRDA to submit its report," Kunte told Mumbai Mirror. At the same time, the tree authority has also decided not to grant any permission to cut trees till MMRDA complies with its request. "There were some MMRDA officials present for the tree authority meeting last week, but they couldn't give any concrete answers about the exact location and number of the trees planted," said tree authority member and BJP corporator Ameet Satam said. When asked why it took so long for the tree authority to seek the information, especially when the project had started way back in 2008, Satam said it was only after his induction into the tree authority in March 2012, he began reviewing the case and found the anomaly. Speaking to Mirror, an MMRDA official said that the agency would furnish a detailed report to the tree authority in a couple of days. "We have planted the trees in forest land, while some of the trees have been moved. We will submit our list to the tree authority soon."

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20120922201209220438058052713e3e9/MMRDA-mum-on-trees-felled-for-Metro-project.html

Committee set up to probe Mumbai Metro accident - Business Standard

Committee set up to probe Mumbai Metro accident

The Maharashtra Police has registered a first information report against metro contractor HCC

Sanjay Jog / Mumbai Sep 06, 2012, 00:48 IST

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the nodal agency for infrastructure projects here, has initiated an inquiry into the collapse of a section of a metro rail bridge yesterday, in which one person was killed and 16 injured.

A committee headed by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay professor K V K Rao would probe the incident and suggest safety measures to avoid such instances in the future. The committee includes MMRDA chief engineer S B Tamsekar.

Mumbai Metro One, a special purpose vehicle set up by Reliance Infrastructure and MMRDA to implement the metro project, has also initiated an internal inquiry into the incident.

The Maharashtra Police has registered a first information report against metro contractor Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), which was roped in by Mumbai Metro One. HCC has also been asked to carry out safety and structural audits to ensure such accidents do not recur.

MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana told Business Standard, “MMRDA is not executing the metro phase-I project, neither was it a supervisor. The project implementing agency is Reliance Infrastructure arm Mumbai Metro One, which roped in HCC as contractor. Still, we have ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident to ensure adequate safety standards are maintained during project implementation.”

Though Mumbai Metro One refused to divulge the details on the probe initiated into the accident, a company spokesman said, “We deeply regret the accident at the airport station metro site, being constructed by our contractor HCC. Our emergency response team, along with HCC staff, is at the site to provide rescue-and-relief services, which is our priority. We will keep the media and affected parties posted, as we obtain more information on the accident.”

When contacted, an HCC spokesman declined to comment.

The Rs 2,356-crore Mumbai Metro phase-I project has already missed the completion deadline. Both MMRDA and Mumbai Metro One hope this phase would now be operational by March. The 11.07-km first phase would link Versova-Andheri in the western suburbs to Ghatkopar in the eastern suburbs.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/committee-setto-probe-mumbai-metro-accident/485536/

Metro mishap: Fatalities at metro site - DNA

Metro mishap: Fatalities at metro site

Published: Thursday, Sep 6, 2012, 8:00 IST 
Agency: DNA

The construction of the 11.40km Versova-Andheri- Ghatkopar Metro railway corridor has seen eight accidents since 2008.

May 14, 2008 
Vijay Kumar, who was travelling in an autorickshaw, died at JB Nagar when a boom of a piling rig fell on an auto rickshaw due to loose soil during shifting. Compensation was given to Kumar’s relatives and rickshaw driver Vinod SB Singh.

February 22, 2009
A reinforcement cage fell on a labourer holding it at Kurla Road leading towards Saki Naka. He was injured

July 14, 2009 
Navin Prasad Singh, a supervisor, was electrocuted during heavy rains at the Andheri metro rail site. His family was given compensation of Rs4.68 lakh

November 30, 2009
Workers were injured while removing the scaffolding on the Western Express Highway. 

April 9, 2011
Two children Pratap Padekar (9) and Dattatraya Padekar (11) drowned after they entered the restricted area at Subhash Nagar and went to bathe inside an excavated pit. The MMOPL gave Rs5 lakh compensation to the victims’ family and subsequently the excavated pits were covered with safety nets apart from posting security guards.

July 7, 2011
Banwari Lal, a labourer, died after falling from a height of 11.9m while working on the deck slab below the girder near Navrang Cinema. Though the victim was wearing full body harness, he was not anchored to the horizontal life line. After the accident, the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited decided to ensure that workmen working at a height must use safety harnesses and always anchor the hook to a suitable anchor point.

April 25, 2012
A crane slipped near Sarvodaya Hospital at Ghatkopar (West) during crane placement operations for placing girders. As a remedial measure, a decision was taken to check soil condition for stability and ensure experienced supervision and competent operators.

September 4, 2012
An extended foot over-bridge, which was to link an escalator to be set up at the airport road metro station, in Andheri, collapsed, killing one and injuring 16.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-mishap-fatalities-at-metro-site_1737290

 

Metro mishap raises questions on elevated rail corridor - DNA

Metro mishap raises questions on elevated rail corridor

Published: Thursday, Sep 6, 2012, 8:00 IST 
By Rajendra B Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Tuesday’s accident at the Metro site has raised serious safety issues about elevated projects, including the railway’s plan of a 60-km corridor between Churchgate and Virar.

Experts say that it would lead to disasters if any accidents happen over running trains packed with passengers.

IIT civil engineer and transport activist Sudhir Badami said there was a general lack of competence among engineers today and stressed the need to follow safety norms.

“Expediting projects leads to mistakes and if such accidents happen on the running suburban corridors, it would be a major disaster. There will be a need of intensive monitoring,” he said.

The Ministry of Railways has proposed a two-track elevated corridor above the existing Churchgate-Virar line that will run air-conditioned trains. The proposed corridor is expected to terminate near Nariman Point at Oval Maidan and would be partially underground.

Transport expert Ashok Datar said whether it be railways or any body, our engineers usually do not follow rules strictly. “We could go in for other surface transport options and still achieve the same results. The elevated corridor would not just be risky, but also an expensive affair,” he said.

Railway engineers disagree that there could be problems, claiming they never compromise on safety.

“Every road and elevated bridge built by private bodies in Mumbai follow their own procedures. The railways do not allow this. It is mandatory to follow all our norms and that’s possibly why one always hears complaints that the railways delays city projects,” said a railway construction department official.

He added that the railways has a research body and there is a national standard of construction and safety operating procedures to be followed.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-mishap-raises-questions-on-elevated-rail-corridor_1737291

 

MMRDA appoints committee to ascertain metro line mishap - DNA 5/9/12

MMRDA appoints committee to ascertain metro line mishap

Published: Wednesday, Sep 5, 2012, 22:44 IST 
Place: Mumbai | Agency: PTI

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Corporation (MMRDA) on Wednesday said it has appointed a two-member committee to ascertain the reasons for last evening's mishap on the metro line, which killed one and injured 11 others.

The committee, comprising IIT Bombay civil engineering department Professor KVK Rao and Public Works Department chief engineer SB Tamsekar is expected to submit its report within a period of 15 days.

"MMRDA, being a nodal authority for the project has appointed a two-member committee to advise it on the reasons for the accident in order to enable it to take up the matter independently with MMOPL, which is executing the project," the Authority said a statement.

The step has been taken so that MMRDA ensures remedial measures, as well as suggests measures to avoid recurrence of such instances in future, it said.

Last evening, a mishap occured when an escalator beam collapsed while construction work at the airport station near Leela Hotel in suburban Marol was in progress.

The Metro-I corridor, which runs from Versova to Ghatkopar via Andheri is being executed by the Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL) consortium led by Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure.

The consortium had appointed various contractors, including Hindustan Construction Company to complete diverse tasks including construction of the airport metro station.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against the supervisor, engineers and others involved in the construction of the bridge.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mmrda-appoints-committee-to-ascertain-metro-line-mishap_1737251