Mumbai: The Metro works, which were stalled due to the Corona crisis of one and a half years, are slowly gaining momentum, but there are still many obstacles in front of completing the project. Although the state government is raising funds in the form of secondary loans for the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadvali-Gaimukh Metro 4 and Metro 4-A projects, the project has been delayed. Due to this, the project cost is increasing. Due to this the concern of the administration has increased.
Expenditure on consultants appointed for the Metro 4 project has increased by 33.94 percent from Rs 283 crore 21 lakh to Rs 379 crore 32 lakh. In addition, the project advisory deadline of May 2022 has also been extended by 33 months to February 2025. Actually, this deadline was sought by the consultants till March 2026. Due to this, questions have arisen regarding the completion of the project within the stipulated time.
At the same time, on 25 October 2016, the government took this decision after the state cabinet approved the works of the Metro 4 project costing 14 thousand 549 crores on 27 September 2016. After which the Bhoomi Pujan of this project was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 December 2016. Appointed consultant for the metro project for 54 months by paying Rs 283 crore 21 lakh for this project. Earlier this project was planned till Kasarvadvali only but later this project was expanded and extended till Gaimukh. The slow start of the project has been acknowledged by the MMRDA commissioner himself in the meeting of the executive committee of MMRDA, and the delay in the project works in the last two years.
Only 38 percent of work done
The 35.38 km long Metro 4 and 4A from Amar Mahal in Chembur, Mumbai to Ghatkopar-Vikhroli-Mulund-Thane-Kasarvadavali-Gaimukh starts from Wadala. It consists of 32 metro stations. A Metro depot is planned at Mogarpara on Ghodbunder Road and the 1.5 km long route leading to it has been included in Metro 4 routes. The consultant of Metro 4 has been given the responsibility of Metro 4A and for this, an amount of 20 crores of 4 lakh has been given. In the meeting of MMRDA in August, it has been claimed that about 38 percent of work on this route has been completed.
