Mumbai Metro, India

Overstretched rail and road networks have created an urgent need for a suitable high-capacity transport system within the Indian city of Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay.

The present suburban railway network, which is not designed for mass transit, has to cope with those travelling into the city every day. In the 1950s, Mumbai enjoyed an extensive public transport system, with trams, rail and bus services adequately coping with demand. In recent times, however, commuter transport has become hazardous with severe overcrowding and the greater resort to road use.

Even with the need for a rethink, around 80% of journeys in Mumbai are made using public transport, mainly by train and bus, and the closure of the tramway in the 1960s is now seen as a major planning error.

There are currently 26 cities in India proposing to build high-capacity metro systems, and Mumbai is the latest to reach the construction stage.

THE PROJECT

In June 2006, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh laid the first stone for the first phase of of the Mumbai Metro, which comprises a a three line high-capacity metro system spanning 63km. It is expected to eventually double to more than 145km, with up to nine lines.

The railway system currently provides a north-south route through the city, and the first line of the metro from Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar will provide a new 11km east-west route. The second planned line will be 38km long, and the third 14km.

Major engineering works were to start in October 2006 after the end of the monsoon season, with the aim of opening the first line in 2010, including six months of testing. However, a decision had still to be made in November 2006 as to whether the project was eligible to receive what is known as Viability Gap Funding.

When it opens, the new system will slash journey times on the 11km east-west corridor from 90 minutes to just 21, crossing densely populated areas and major industrial locations.

Reliance Energy (REL), as part of a consortium involving European rail operator Connex, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and Hong Kong MRT, won build-own-operate-transfer contract for the first metro route at a fee of Rs23.6bn (US$524m). This will see the consortium manage the first three metro lines for 35 years before transfer to a new operator.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The first 11km route of the Mumbai metro will run east-west through the city between Versova and Ghatkoper, with 12 stations, and entirely on an elevated formation. With such freedom and the capacity to handle 60,000 passengers per hour, it will cut journey times through the densely populated areas.

Construction of Line 1 was due to start in late 2006, but financial issues surrounding the granting of Viability Gap Funding were slowing progress in November 2006.

Construction will take four years, and the line will open in 2010. However, the first route is far from the end of the plans. A second phase will aim for two further lines reaching a total of 63km, but the ultimate plan is for a network spanning 146.5km. This could cost Rs195bn, and include 114km of elevated running plus 32.5km of underground operation.

In line with the Railway Ministry's standards, the Mumbai Metro will be built using the standard broad gauge of Indian Railways – 1,676mm gauge – throughout.

The system will have a major effect on the prosperity of Mumbai. Even though major ground works have not commenced yet, there is already speculation that property prices along the metro routes will rise significantly over the coming years.

ROLLING STOCK

Reliance Energy (REL) has begun discussions with major rolling stock builders to provide the new train fleet for Mumbai Metro. Kawasaki (Japan), Alstom (France), Siemens (Germany) and Bombardier are all on the list of potential train builders, having produced vehicles for metro systems around the world.

For passenger comfort, the trains will feature air-conditioning, and the aim is to develop trains capable of carrying up to 1,500 passengers in a four-car unit.

With the input of the Delhi Metro Corporation and Hong Kong MRT, the new trains are likely to follow similar standards to those already in operation in those cities.

SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Mumbai Metro will feature the latest signalling technology, including automatic train protection (ATP) and automated signalling to control the high-volume of train movements on the 11km route.

A four-minute interval service is anticipated on the route.

THE FUTURE

Even though work is only just starting on the first line of the Mumbai Metro, ambitious plans are in place to establish the system into a nine-line network by 2021. Three phases of development are expected, with the first line opening in 2010, further routes in 2016, and completion coming five years later.