Metro III pushes ahead

MUMBAI: Plans for the Rs 21,000-crore third line of the Mumbai Metro (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) got a boost with the move to appoint an interim consultant to help provide services like geotechnical investigations and for preparation of tender design documents. Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials said there was a need to get the project off the ground and the interim consultant would look into preliminary work on the 33.5 km line with 27 stations. MMRDA officials said they were not rejecting the plea for a single underground line from Colaba to Charkop by citizen groups at a recent public hearing. “We could incorporate the groups’ plans later,’’ they said.MMRDA joint project director Dilip Kawathkar said the consultant has to have experience in building railway tunnels, underground metro stations as well as a metro rail line underground for five km. Mumbai Metro I (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) is still to be completed.