Mmrdaseesfundsforlatest Metroline risingfromtheeast

Agency wants port trust land on eastern waterfront in lieu of cost of building the partially underground corridor

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is looking to help develop a chunk of land on the city’s eastern waterfront, owned by the Mumbai Port Trust. Reason: The MMRDA wants to monetise this developed land in lieu of the cost of constructing a partially underground corridor between Wadala and General Post Office (GPO) in south Mumbai, according to officials.

The MMRDA, which is executing the Metro-11 (Wadala-gpo) line, wants the central government’s port agency to share the cost of the corridor as they have insisted on an underground line that passes through its land. However, the MBPT is not keen to shell out funds for the project.

RA Rajeev, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA said, “We can monetise some of the land and generate revenue. It is a matter of ₹2K crore. We will propose this during our discussions.”

Also, the land bank of the MMRDA is drying up in BandraKurla Complex and Wadala. This bank is a primary source of revenue for the agency. According to MMRDA officials, a little over 70% of its land in the plush business district is sold off, and they have not attracted any takers for the remaining plots since 2007. Hence, MMRDA is on the lookout for expanding its land parcels.

Earlier in the week, the detailed project report (DPR) for the 14km Wadala-gpo Metro 11, which is estimated to cost ₹8,739 crore, was approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. “Metro-11 was planned partially underground on the insistence of MBPT. They wanted it underground as they are planning to develop the untapped land. But we cannot spend for an underground line; it costs three times more than an elevated one,” said a senior MMRDA official.

The port trust has already planned to develop the 550-hectare land parcel into a commercial, recreation and entertainment hub.

Metro-11 could become the city’s second underground Metro line after the Colaba-seepz one. The integration of the Metro-11 and Wadala-ghatkopar-thane Metro-4 would cater to commuters in eastern suburbs.