MSRDC, MMRDA to swap projects

The MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation) and MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) to exchange Alibaug-Virar multimodal corridor & Thane twin tunnel projects with each other, said an official from the MSRDC, requesting anonymity. An official announcement on same will be declared soon, he stated.

The official said, "We (MSRDC) are already constructing the Mumbai Nagpur super-expressway. Since the proposed Alibaug Virar multimodal corridor will support the super expressway connectivity, it is essential to start the other project work at the earliest. The super expressway is being constructed, so the cities from where it is passing will get direct connectivity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and Multimodal project will provide the JNPT traffic. Therefore, it has been decided that if the same agency (MSRDC) takes the supporting project work, it will be faster and easier to complete instead of other agency (MMRDA) doing it."

The official informed that MSRDC will construct the multimodal corridor and in exchange, MMRDA will take the proposed Thane-Borivali twin tunnel project. However, MSRDC will bear the cost of the twin tunnel project and MMRDA to take care of the cost of multimodal corridor. The construction cost will not be a matter as both will be tolled once ready, informed the official.

The proposed eight lane Alibaug-Virar multimodal corridor, 128 kilometres long has been pegged at Rs 19,000 crore by the MMRDA.