Mumbai Metro 9: New Route To Reduce Costs And Save Hundreds Of Families

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is considering an alternative route for the Metro 9 corridor between Bhayandar and Uttan that could save Rs 500 crore in costs, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. Currently, the planned route passes through three villages along a 5.5-kilometre stretch. However, the alternative route will bypass these villages, reducing expenses related to construction, land acquisition, and rehabilitation, according to MMRDA sources.

Initially, Metro 9 was set to start in Dahisar and end at Subhash Chandra Ground in Bhayandar, with a car depot near the villages of Rai, Murdha, and Morva. However, due to villagers' reluctance to part with their farmland for the depot, the project was extended by 5.5-kilometre to Uttan, where a 59.65-hectare plot was identified on a hillock for the depot.

The original route was designed to be an elevated corridor passing through Rai, Murdha, Morva, and some saltpan lands, with two stations along the way. However, the road in this area is narrower than originally planned, and as a result, around 900 families would need to be relocated, with land acquisition and rehabilitation costs amounting to Rs 300 crore and Rs 270 crore, respectively.

The alternative route, which would pass primarily through saltpan and marshy lands, would affect only 200 families. This route would help lower costs for land acquisition, rehabilitation, and construction. Additionally, while the original plan included two stations, the new route would have just one, making it accessible to residents of Rai, Murdha, and Morva.

The cost of building a metro station is approximately Rs 80 crore. Meanwhile, the car depot in Uttan is progressing, with over 50 hectares of government land already secured and the acquisition of 2.4 hectares of private land in progress.

The Metro 9 corridor is expected to be completed by June 2025, with around 87 per cent of the construction work already finished. The process of procuring rakes, overhead equipment, tracks, and other essential components has already begun. Once construction is completed, the line will open partially from Dahisar to Kashi Gaon after receiving the necessary safety certifications, which typically take two months.