Navi Mumbai Metro

History

The Navi Mumbai Metro project received formal approval on 29 April 2010, and a public hearing on 21 May 2010 reported no major objections to the plan. CIDCO was named as the implementing agency of the Belapur–Pendhar–Kalamboli–Khandeshwar line under the Indian Tramway Act, 1886, by the Government of Maharashtra on 30 September 2010. The metro's foundation stone was laid on 1 May 2011 by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, and general foundation work on the system's first phase commenced in October 2011. In March 2012, CIDCO released the metro's complete master plan, including a proposed connection to the Mumbai Metro. In February 2017, RITES submitted an interim detailed project report (DPR) for Lines II, III, and IV of the Navi Mumbai Metro.

In February 2013, thousands of villagers in the Navi Mumbai area protested against CIDCO's inaction on local housing developments and its failure to provide restitution for locals affected by infrastructure projects. The protesters pledged to "shut down the CIDCO head office and all development projects in the region. These will include the metro project and any progress on the airport project".

Network

The Navi Mumbai Metro is planned to consist of five, lines totaling 106.4 km in length. , Line 1 of the metro was slated to commence operations in November 2023, which it ultimately did on the 17th of that month.

Line 1

Main article: Line 1 (Navi Mumbai Metro)

All the phases of Line 1 will be constructed and funded by CIDCO. Lines 2 and 3 will be funded by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority respectively. The total cost of Line 1 is estimated to be .

Construction

The 23.40 km Line 1 consists of 20 stations. The proposed route will link CBD Belapur, Kharghar, Taloja, Taloja MIDC, Kalamboli, Kamothe and the Khandeshwar railway station, terminating at the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport.

In mid-2012, CIDCO awarded the contract for the construction of the 11.1 km section from Belapur to Pendhar to a consortium of Sanjose (Spain), Mahavira Road and Infrastructure (Navi Mumbai), and Supreme Infrastructure (Mumbai). The original deadline to complete the project was in 2016. This was later extended to mid-2017, and then mid-2018. By January 2017, only 60% of the work on the stations had been completed. Finding the progress of work to be unsatisfactory, CIDCO sent a notice terminating the contract to the consortium on 11 January 2017. On 1 March 2017, CIDCO floated new tenders to construct 11 stations along the Belapur-Pendhar section. The previous contractors had completed 60% of the work on the stations. The new contract with worth .

Line 1 is planned to be developed in 3 phases:

Infrastructure

An international consortium of companies including Ansaldo STS, Tata Project and CSR Zhuzhou will provide the electrical and mechanical systems for the first phase of Line 1. Ansaldo will conduct systems integration and supply train control systems, telecoms, fare collection systems and equipment storage. The metro's standard gauge Network would be electrified at 25 kV AC, with power provided via an overhead catenary.

Rolling stock

In 2014, the Chinese company CSR Zhuzhou. signed a contract with CIDCO to supply rolling stock for the first phase of the metro's Line 1.

Status updates

Construction of Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 progressed steadily from 2018, with trial runs starting in 2019 and delays due to COVID-19 pushing completion to 2024. After receiving safety clearances, the line was opened for commercial operations on November 17, 2023, and reinaugurated by PM Modi in January 2024.

References

• Navi Mumbai Metro – official website --

References

1. Ganapatye, Mayuresh. (17 November 2023). "Navi Mumbai Metro Starts Today After 12-Year Wait, First Service at 3pm from Pendhar-Belapur Terminal". News18.
2. Adimulam, Sweety. (18 November 2023). "Excitement over Navi Mumbai Metro on Day 1: Over 5,000 passengers in 4 hours". The Indian Express.
3. (25 October 2023). "Residents miffed as Navi Mumbai Metro awaits inauguration".
4. ["Extension"](https://www.constructionworld.in/transport-infrastructure/metro-rail-and-railways-infrastructure/navi-mumbai-metro-line 1-set-to-extend-up-to-nmia/72442).
5. (17 November 2023). "Navi Mum to get 1st Metro line today after 9-yr delay". The Times of India.
6. (17 November 2023). ["Navi Mumbai's first Metro line to begin services from today"](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/navi-mumbai-metro-rail-line 1-services-friday-cidco-9029533/). The Indian Express.
7. (27 March 2012). "Cidco takes Navi Mumbai metro plan ahead". DNA India.
8. (28 October 2011). "Work on first phase of Navi Mumbai Metro Rail begins". The Economic Times.
9. (14 February 2017). "Cidco studying interim report on 3 lines of Metro project".
10. (11 February 2013). "Massive agitation by Navi Mumbai villagers from today". Hindustan Times.
11. (16 November 2023). ["Navi Mumbai's first Metro line to begin services from today"](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/navi-mumbai-metro-rail-line 1-services-friday-cidco-9029533/).
12. (2010). "Neither objections nor any suggestions for metro project | Mumbai, World Snap". Worldsnap.com.
13. (24 January 2017). ["Cidco mulls terminating line 1 Metro contract"](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/cidco-mulls-terminating-line 1-metro-contract/articleshow/56765238.cms).
14. (3 March 2017). "Push for Navi Mumbai Metro, maiden run likely by May 2018".
15. (24 July 2014). "Navi Mumbai metro E&M contract awarded". Railway Gazette.
16. (26 February 2012). "CIDCO opts for wider metro coaches". Mid-Day Infomedia Ltd..