MMRDA issues tenders for Metro 9 & 7 depot

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has floated tenders for the construction of a depot for Line 9 (Dahisar-Mira Bhayandar) and Line 7A on a hectare plot in Dongri near Bhayander. The depot will come up on 59.65 hectares of land and will have atleast 40 stabling lines. A MMRDA official said, ?We estimate the cost to develop this depot at Rs 626 crore and it will take atleast 52 months to complete the work.? In the interim, MMRDA will have to rely on Charkop depot which is now being used to run services on Metro 2A and 7 (Andheri west-Dahisar-Gundavali) line Line 7 has interconnection with Metro 9, thus there may not be operational challenges in running services till the time exclusive depot is built for Metro 9. The earlier site was spread over three villages of Morva, Raimurdhe and Murdhe. It is partly in a residential zone and partly in a no- development zone. The villagers were opposed to the project and allege that around 547 families will lose their homes on account of the 100 feet road and Metro car shed spread across 32 acres.