Mumbai's first Metro service opened for commuters today. It was flagged off by Maharashtra's chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.
The Metro project was commissioned and work started in 2007. It was expected to start services around 2011. However the same was delayed by several years. Ironically not only did the company not have to pay any penalties, they were able to collect almost twice as much as the original estimates. Given that there is no incentive for completing on time but a huge reward for delay, its little wonder that the project was majorly delayed.
Rinfra has built the 11.40 km Metro Rail running east-west between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar. The cost of the project originally won at Rs. 2,356 crores has increased to Rs 4,321 crores.
The Mumbai Metro has fixed a slab Rs 10, 20, 30 and 40, depending on the distance, but the state government is insisting on a minimum and maximum fare between Rs 9 and Rs 13. The impasse is still on and for now the introductory fare of Rs. 10 has been accepted by both sides.
Each of the metros has four coaches with a capacity of around 375 commuters or around 1,500 commuters per service, zooming above the city between the two points — Versova-Ghatkopar with a total of 12 elevated stations en route.
The company has said that it will operate 200-250 services a day, carrying around 11 lakh passengers. The system will initially handle 7 lakh commuters per day and eventually up to 11 lakh. There will be as many as 270-280 services per day from Monday, when the trains begin operation from 5.30am to midnight.
The biggest benefit of the Metro is to the Mumbaikar. The Metro will reduce travel time on the 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor to 21 minutes as against the 1 to 2 hours that it takes to cover the stretch by road.
The Metro project was commissioned and work started in 2007. It was expected to start services around 2011. However the same was delayed by several years. Ironically not only did the company not have to pay any penalties, they were able to collect almost twice as much as the original estimates. Given that there is no incentive for completing on time but a huge reward for delay, its little wonder that the project was majorly delayed.
Rinfra has built the 11.40 km Metro Rail running east-west between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar. The cost of the project originally won at Rs. 2,356 crores has increased to Rs 4,321 crores.
The Mumbai Metro has fixed a slab Rs 10, 20, 30 and 40, depending on the distance, but the state government is insisting on a minimum and maximum fare between Rs 9 and Rs 13. The impasse is still on and for now the introductory fare of Rs. 10 has been accepted by both sides.
Each of the metros has four coaches with a capacity of around 375 commuters or around 1,500 commuters per service, zooming above the city between the two points — Versova-Ghatkopar with a total of 12 elevated stations en route.
The company has said that it will operate 200-250 services a day, carrying around 11 lakh passengers. The system will initially handle 7 lakh commuters per day and eventually up to 11 lakh. There will be as many as 270-280 services per day from Monday, when the trains begin operation from 5.30am to midnight.
The biggest benefit of the Metro is to the Mumbaikar. The Metro will reduce travel time on the 12-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor to 21 minutes as against the 1 to 2 hours that it takes to cover the stretch by road.
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