UNI

MUMBAI, Jun 21: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday performed the bhoomi pujan for the Mumbai Metro Rail Project under the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and flagged off the Rs 2,356 crore Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor at Godrej Lands here.
 
Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Union Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chauhan and Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil were present.
  
The 146.5-km rail Mumbai masterplan worth Rs 19,500 crore will be executed in three phases. The first phase includes the 11.7 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor on line one, 38 km Colaba-Mahim-Charkop corridor on line two and 14 km in the Bandra-Kurla-Mankhurd corridor on line three.
  
The 63-km three lines at an estimated cost of Rs 12,777 crore are expected to be completed by 2010-11. The construction of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor will be executed by a special purpose vehicle formed by the Mumbai Metro consortium led by Reliance Energy Ltd, Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group and MMRDA.
  
Anil was accompanied by mother Kokilaben and wife Tina.
 
The project will be implemented by the build own operate transfer basis through public-private partnership for 35 years. Its execution will start by October.
  
The corridor will have eight stations and the bogies will be air-conditioned.
 
The distance from Versova to Ghatkopar will come down from 70 minutes to 21 minutes. The fare structure will be 1.5 times that of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport undertaking bus fares.