Reliance Infrastructure to build second Metro

The second line of Mumbai Metro connecting Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd has been awarded to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RIL) — that is also building the first line connecting Versova, Andheri and Ghatkopar.

Executive Committee of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) headed by Chief Secretary Johny Joseph on Wednesday awarded the work to construct the Rs 8,250-crore Metro corridor to Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium that includes SNC Lavalin Inc from Canada and Reliance Communication.

Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) have committed to spend Rs 5,952 crore under Public Private Partnership (PPP), while the Centre will provide a viability gap fund of Rs 1,532 crore and the rest Rs 766 crore will be provided by the MMRDA.

The Centre and the MMRDA will contribute to the cost to make the project commercially viable for the bidder — a provision under the PPP model of infrastructure building.

“The RInfra had emerged as lone qualified bidder. On Wednesday, the executive committee decided to award the work to their consortium,” said Dilip Kawathkar, joint project director (public relations), MMRDA.

In May, RInfra was the only bidder that submitted its bids though seven companies or consortia were interested in the venture.

The work on project is likely to begin after monsoon and the line is expected to be ready by 2014.

The committee also appointed Louis Berger Inc. as consultants to carry out feasibility study of third underground Metro rail of Colaba-Bandra.

They will study technical, financial and legal feasibility for commercial development of 14 underground Metro stations. They will also assess its environmental impact and traffic dispersal systems on the corridor.

The 32-km stretch of second metro line will have 27 stations.