The MMRDA says it will hand over most of the alignment to the developer at the start of construction of the 32-km Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd corridor,the second leg of the Metro. Were giving them 80 per cent of RoW (right of way) along the stretch at the start, declared Ratnakar Gaikwad,Metropolitan Commissioner,MMRDA. For the first corridor,due for commissioning in December,the government is yet to hand over part of the stretch. For the second,it will sign the concession agreement with Reliance Infrastructure Ltd on Thursday. Sources said Reliance Infrastructure has sought RoW to at least 50 per cent of the alignment before starting work to ensure the construction does not go beyond the five-year target. In Corridor I,the right of way was not given at various stretches due to rehabilitation delays and protest from residents. Handover of the land for the depot too was delayed as it was stuck in litigation. A stretch around 2 km is yet to be been handed over to Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd,formed by Reliance Infrastructure,MMRDA and Veolia Transport. Sources said a major roadblock for RoW clearance would be at Kurla where a thick belt of encroachment lies right in the alignment. In November,residents had not allowed Reliance Infrastructure officials to carry out surveys.
