Mumbai Metro-3 project faces cash crunch

17 Jun 2021 CW Team

The long delayed Mumbai Metro 3 project from Cuffe Parade to SEEPZ is now facing a major cash crunch.

Suzuki Satoshi, the Japanese ambassador to India, wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on February 17, 2021, expressing concerns about an impending cash crunch and significant delay or stagnation for the project.

The suburban collector's decision to hand over the Kanjurmarg plot for the car shed was stayed by the Bombay High Court in December.

According to protocol, the state must first approve the cost escalation proposal and then notify the union ministry of housing and urban affairs of its decision. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) disburses the loan once the centre has cleared it.

The letter said that the issue of the depot's location is resolved and JICA stands ready to consider another loan to support the depot's construction.

The approval of the revision of the total project cost to reflect actual fund requirements, according to a two-page annex note attached to the ambassador's letter, is indispensable for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited(MMRCL).

The letter stated that it was recognised during JICA's detailed fact finding mission with MMRCL, which took place from December 2020 to January 2021, that there is a real possibility for MMRCL to face fund shortage within the next fiscal year (FY2021) if an additional loan cannot be provided by the end of this fiscal year (FY2020).

MMRCL, the project's implementing authority, has already spent Rs 18,000 crore on the 33.5 km Metro 3 line. About 70% of the work, including 95% of the tunnelling, has been completed. Despite the fact that the metro car shed accounts for only 4% of the project's total cost, the project cannot be completed without it.

Image Source

Also read: Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 corridor: MMRC achieves 38th breakthrough

Also read: Mumbai Metro 2A, 7 to be fully operational from January 2022

The long delayed Mumbai Metro 3 project from Cuffe Parade to SEEPZ is now facing a major cash crunch. Suzuki Satoshi, the Japanese ambassador to India, wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on February 17, 2021, expressing concerns about an impending cash crunch and significant delay or stagnation for the project. The suburban collector's decision to hand over the Kanjurmarg plot for the car shed was stayed by the Bombay High Court in December. According to protocol, the state must first approve the cost escalation proposal and then notify the union ministry of housing and urban affairs of its decision. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) disburses the loan once the centre has cleared it. The letter said that the issue of the depot's location is resolved and JICA stands ready to consider another loan to support the depot's construction. The approval of the revision of the total project cost to reflect actual fund requirements, according to a two-page annex note attached to the ambassador's letter, is indispensable for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited(MMRCL). The letter stated that it was recognised during JICA's detailed fact finding mission with MMRCL, which took place from December 2020 to January 2021, that there is a real possibility for MMRCL to face fund shortage within the next fiscal year (FY2021) if an additional loan cannot be provided by the end of this fiscal year (FY2020). MMRCL, the project's implementing authority, has already spent Rs 18,000 crore on the 33.5 km Metro 3 line. About 70% of the work, including 95% of the tunnelling, has been completed. Despite the fact that the metro car shed accounts for only 4% of the project's total cost, the project cannot be completed without it. Image Source Also read: Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 corridor: MMRC achieves 38th breakthrough Also read: Mumbai Metro 2A, 7 to be fully operational from January 2022

Infrastructure Transport

19 Dec 2025

Tripura Rail Survey Approved For Jirania–Bodhjung Link

The Ministry of Railways has approved a Final Location Survey (FLS) for a proposed new railway line between Jirania and Bodhjung Nagar in Tripura. The planned section will span 14 km and is estimated to cost around Rs 4.2 million, with the entire alignment located within West Tripura district. The approval marks a key step towards strengthening railway infrastructure and supporting industrial growth in the state. Bodhjung Nagar is Tripura’s principal industrial and commercial hub, developed mainly for resource-based industries such as rubber, bamboo and food processing. The proposed Jirania..

Infrastructure Transport

19 Dec 2025

MCF Raebareli Rolls Out Its 15,000th Passenger Coach

The Modern Coach Factory (MCF) in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, has reached a major production milestone with the manufacture of its 15,000th passenger coach on December 15, the Ministry of Railways said. During the current financial year 2025–26, the unit has produced a total of 1,310 coaches so far. Established in 2007 at Lalganj in Raebareli, MCF is among India’s most advanced passenger coach manufacturing facilities. Built at a cost of around Rs 31.92 billion, the factory has an installed annual capacity of 1,000 coaches and is located about 3 km from Lalganj on the Kanpur–Raebareli Roa..

Infrastructure Transport

19 Dec 2025

RVNL Wins Gandak River Rail Bridge Contract

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has received a Letter of Award from North Eastern Railway for a major railway infrastructure project valued at Rs 1.65 billion. The contract relates to the construction of the substructure for a key railway bridge over the Gandak River. The bridge will be constructed between Paniyahwa and Valmikinagar stations as part of the doubling of the Gorakhpur Cantt–Valmikinagar railway section. Designed to enhance capacity and operational efficiency, the structure will comprise 14 spans of 61 metres each and will be supported by double D-type well foundations. The des..