Navi Mumbai metro to go till Kalyan

With the upcoming international airport, air passengers will want to reach surrounding areas faster

MUMBAI:CHIEF minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered the urban development department to conduct a survey, as part of the plan to extend Navi Mumbai’s Belapur-taloja metro line to Kalyan-ulhasnagar and Murbad.

Cidco is currently working on a Rs4,000 crore metro project connecting Belapur and Taloja and has so far has spent over Rs1,600 crore. The first phase of the project will be ready for operation by the end of 2014.

At this time, it takes at least two hours to reach Kalyan from Navi Mumbai by road. When the international airport comes up at Navi Mumbai, commuters would want to reach Kalyan faster. Hence, the plan to extend the metro to Kalyan will ensure that passengers reach Kalyan in less than half the time that it takes by road.

“It’s huge project that can change the economic scenario of Kalyan and Murbad taluka. Once the survey is completed, the metro will be commissioned in the next 3 years. The proposal has been accepted by the chief minister in principle. The metro will rid commuters of their travelling woes,” said Hindurao.

Cidco chairman Pramod Hindurao confirmed the development, adding that the plan to link Navi Mumbai to these areas was also supported by Thane and Raigad guardian ministers Ganesh Naik and Sunil Tatkare. “Last week I had a chance to speak with the chief minister at his official bungalow and submitted a memorandum with regard to the plan. He has ordered the urban development wing to begin the survey soon,” said Hindurao.

“We hope Kalyan will be connected with Navi Mumba for economic development of the region. Kalyan has a lot of potential as it is a strategic junction connecting various routes through the rail network Metro will change the face of this region,” added Hindurao.