Mumbai: It will be possible to directly reach Gateway of India in South Mumbai from Gaymukh on Ghodbunder Road in Thane. Such extension of Wadala-CSMT Metro 11 underground route is proposed and study is going on regarding the new design. Under this, Metro 11 will be taken up to Apollo port.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is actively constructing Metro 4A and Metro 4 Joint Elevated Lines via Gaymukh-Kasarvadvali-Ghatkopar-Wadala via Mulund, Bhandup connecting Thane and Mumbai via Lal Bahadur Shastri route. This joint corridor will be connected to the monorail at Wadala. As this route needs to be further connected up to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, MMRDA planned an elevated route called 'Metro 11'. However, there was a land barrier in Mumbai Port Authority for that. Therefore, it was decided to make Metro 11 underground and thus a comprehensive project plan (DPR) was prepared. Further, as Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) had experience with Metro 3 underground line, the construction of Metro 11 was also entrusted to MMRC by MMRDA. Now this route is being re-designed under MMRC and it will be possible to reach the 'Gateway of India' directly by metro.

According to reliable sources in this regard, in the original plan of 'MMRDA', 'Metro 11' was to come directly to CSMT via Karnak port. Now 'MMRC' has started drawing this route anew. Instead of going to Karnak port, the underground metro will connect to the Suburban Harbor Railway at Ray Road and then will go to west through Byculla, Nagpada Junction, Bhendi Bazar, Crawford Market and come to CSMT. Due to this, Byculla area will be in metro phase. At the same time, the route will not end at CSMT but will continue under GPO from Horniman Circle to Apollo Port to connect the Gateway of India.

The original design of Wadala-CSMT Metro 11 included a total of ten stations. Now seven stations will be increased due to the new design. MMRC is currently studying how much increase in cost and duration will occur due to the increase of these stations. At the end of this study, a new DPR will be prepared in the next two weeks with a new drawing.

Need for various approvals

If this expansion is feasible, the project will not go ahead immediately even after the DPR is prepared with fresh drawings. For that, MMRC will need various approvals from its Board of Directors. Since MMRC is a joint venture between the central and state governments, not only the permission of the central government will be required, but also the approval of the state cabinet. Sources informed that the next tender process will start only after that.