Aufgabenfelder

SMART, Selection of a Mass Rapid Transit System for Mumbai

ClientGTZ / Tewet / DB International GmbH (DE-Consult) / TCS
ServicesEnvironmental Impact Assessment
  • Metro bridge crossing the Western Express Highway

    Metro bridge crossing the Western Express Highway

  • Metro Line 1

    Metro Line 1

Due to the lack of a mass rapid transit system within the Central Business District (CBD) of Mumbai, the 14 million people capital of the federal state of Maharashtra, SMART, a technical co-operation project between the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Germany was founded. The purpose of the project, funded by a grant from GTZ – the German technical co-operation agency, was to examine the techno-economic feasibility of a high-capacity rail-based mass rapid transit system for Mumbai. A feasibility assessment of the chosen Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) alignment  from Andheri to Ghatkopar was carried out, including an environmental assessment.

The skytrain is supposed to have a maximum speed of 80 km per hour, the total length will amount to  approximately 9,2 km. With MRT stations adjacent to Andheri railway station on the Western line and Ghatkopar railway station on the Central line, the new MRT line will provide for quick and efficient transfers between the two railway lines. Seven intermediate stations, also comprising connection to CST International Airport, will be distributed along the whole route at intervals of approximately 1km.

Limited resettlement and rehabilitation near Andheri, short term construction impacts, and some visual intrusion have been identified as the most critical environmental effects.  All of these can be mitigated in such a way that the remaining adverse impacts do not exceed acceptable levels. The combination of mostly elevated sections with a minimum of underground construction has been designed to achieve an affordable project which also has no significant adverse environmental or social impacts.

Meanwhile the Mumbai metro 'Line 1' has started commercial operations in Summer 2014. Trains will be available every four minutes during peak hours on the 11.4 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch, Phase 1 of the project, operated by Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), a joint venture company formed by Reliance Infrastructure, Veolia Transport and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

The system is supposed to carry around 665,000 passengers per day in 2021, increasing to 883,000 passengers per day in 2031 (Source: MMRDA, January 2016). An 8-mile journey that could take up to two hours by road is expected to take only 20 minutes on the new metro.

(Foto Credits: MMRDA Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, January 2016)

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