The Indian Express 04.09.2012
Traffic concerns: MMRDA plans to shift 22 bus stops
With the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro corridor nearing completion, there have been concerns that the under-construction line could add to the congestion in the western suburbs once it is commissioned. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has worked out a plan to manage traffic around the proposed stations.
The plan proposes to shift 22 bus stops of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking that are located right under the upcoming elevated Metro stations. The bus stops would be shifted about 80-100 metres away to avoid crowding with passengers of the Metro and BEST buses alighting at the exact same location.
“We had got in touch with the BEST around six months ago and have been discussing the matter with them. We have also asked them to alter some of their routes in order to create feeder service for the Metro. They are cooperating with us and have agreed to work on it,” said S V R Srinivas, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.
The 11.3-km Metro line will have 12 stations - Versova, D N Nagar, Azad Nagar, Andheri East, Western Express Highway, Chakala, Airport, Marol Naka, Saki Naka, Asalfa, Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar - with a distance of around one kilometre between two stations.
The MMRDA will have to shift BEST bus stops at almost all the stations except for the Versova, Asalfa, Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar stations.
The station management plan also looks into the details of where the staircases for the Metro stations would be positioned. The MMRDA recently held a meeting with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Sitaram Kunte on the matter.
“The main issue was that there are encroachments at several places around the stations. There are also several utilities that need to be diverted. The BMC has now given us permission to divert these,” Srinivas said.
The MMRDA plans to complete the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro, which is being built at a cost of Rs 2,356 crore, by March 2013. The construction work had started in 2008.
