Mumbaikars will get their first glimpse of the Metro rail this October when the first rake will be shipped from Shanghai, China, for a trial run on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar link. The trial run of the four-coach rake will be held on a 100-metre stretch between D N Nagar and Versova.

The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar section is the first corridor of the 146-km long, rail-based Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Mumbai by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

Comprising 12 stations, the project is being implemented by Mumbai Metro One Private Limited - a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Reliance Energy Ltd, Veolia Transport (France) and MMRDA. CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Company had bagged the Rs 604-crore contract to supply 16 trains over two years. “The first rake will be in Mumbai by October. We will conduct a trial,” said T C Benjamin, principal secretary, Urban Development Department.

Moreover, the 11.4-km stretch got a boost on Tuesday when the Centre approved the Rs 500-crore viability gap funding (VGF) for the project in the budget. Officials said the approval meant that the project will be completed by the end of 2010, at least three years ahead of the project deadline.

Urban Development Department officials said the Centre had earlier rejected the demand for Rs 650-crore VGF as they had applied late. Moreover, the Central Government had contended that the contract was finalised even before the VGF principles were approved.

Charkop depot plan for CRZ approval
The state government has sent the proposal for a depot on a 22-hectare plot in Charkop for CRZ approval. The decision to reduce the size of the depot was taken after residents in the locality opposed the 40-hectare stretch. The government will have to train a canal passing through the stretch and reclaim land to construct the depot.