‘Seepz-BKC Metro will run by the end of 2023 as the car shed will be ready’. Mumbai News – Times of India

Mumbai: Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) plans to start commercial operation of Phase 1 of Metro-3 project between Seepaz and Bandra-Kurla Complex by December 2023. MMRCLWhich is implementing the underground corridor, would require only nine stable lines at the upcoming Aarey Metro car shed to allow it to start operations between Seepaz and Aarey. BKC Metro Stationofficials said.
The Metro Car Shed is designed for 29 rakes of eight cars, and will be constructed at a cost of Rs 328 crore.
An MMRCL source said, “MMRCL will require 15 rakes to operate services at a frequency of 4 minutes during peak hours and 6 minutes during non-peak hours. Aarey and BKC Metro along with nine stationary lines The station lines at the stations will be able to accommodate these multiple rakes comfortably.”
Although the decision to start the car shed work in Aarey was announced by the Deputy Chief Minister. Devendra Fadnavis On June 30, the work on the site can start only after the official notification is released by the state government. An MMRCL source said, “The notification is likely to come on Monday after which work can start.
MMRCL had completed about 27% of the work at the Aarey car shed site before the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray issued a moratorium on construction in November 2019.
Work on the depot began in September 2017 and was expected to be completed by Sam (India) Builtwell Pvt Ltd in 2.5 years, before the matter was delayed in court and subsequently stayed by Thackeray.
MMRCL is also awaiting two prototype rakes from Alstom’s facility in Hyderabad.
A train track has been prepared at Marol, but the rake is yet to arrive, as MMRCL is yet to get approval from the BMC to trim the branches of trees at the places where the rake will have to be unloaded.
MMRCL had cut 2,141 trees out of a total of 2,185 trees for the car shed project in Aarey Milk Colony after the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition on October 4, 2019.
An MMRCL source said excavation of 2.7 lakh cubic meters or 50 per cent of the total land available for the depot at Aarey has been completed.