Transforming Mumbai’s Public Transport with a Safe, Efficient, and Comfortable Metro Rail – EQ Mag

• ADB is supporting metro expansion in Mumbai with a $926 million loan to help operationalize 58 km of the planned 337 km of Mumbai Metro network.

• ADB is providing institutional support in establishing the Mumbai Metro rail organization that will be responsible for managing the operation and maintenance of all upcoming metro lines in Mumbai.

• Mumbai metro network is set to become a game changer towards safe, efficient, comfortable and clean public transport system.

Mumbai is the second most densely populated city in the world with suburban railway being the city’s lifeline carrying nearly 8 million commuters a day. However, jampacked carriages make it a highly unsafe and uncomfortable ride. To improve mobility and safety, the Government of Maharashtra approved a masterplan to build a metro network for the city with 14 lines spread over 337 km. The metro will ease the distress of millions of commuters each day by providing a safe, efficient and comfortable commute for hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. ADB is helping expand the metro network in Mumbai with a $926 million loan to help operationalize 58 km of the metro network.

Transcript

Mumbai – India’s financial capital – is the second most densely populated city in the world.

Suburban railway is the city’s lifeline carrying nearly 8 million commuters a day.

Jampacked carriages make it a highly unsafe and uncomfortable ride.

To improve mobility and safety, the Government of Maharashtra approved a masterplan to build a metro network for the city.

A metro network with 14 lines spread over 337 km will be built to ease the distress of millions of commuters each day.

Mr. S.V.R. Srinivas, Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)
Mumbai is transforming. Mumbai is changing more than what we can imagine. The fulcrum of all this transformation is the Mumbai Metro rail being executed by MMRDA in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the government’s metro expansion plans with a $926 million loan.

It is helping operationalize 58 km of the Mumbai Metro network.

ADB-funded metro lines

Line 2A: Dahisar to DN Nagar – 19 km

Line 7: Andheri-Dahisar corridor – 16 km

Line 2B: DN Nagar-Mandale (under construction): 23 km

The first phase of the project has become operational since April 2022 and thousands of commuters are already benefiting from the metro experience.

Ms. Meenakshi Shirodkar, Mother of a special child. Mumbai Metro commuter My daughter is a special child. I ride on auto rickshaw from Charkopla and it is very stressful. But his metro is good and convenient way to travel. There is no rush or struggle. I am happy travelling this way.

Ms. Monica Jain, Frequent commuter on Mumbai Metro rail I feel (Mumbai) metro is safer than local trains and yes, it is more convenient than locals (suburban railway).

More commuters will benefit by early 2023 when the entire 35 km section of Line 2A and Line 7 is completed.

ADB support will be used to acquire 576 energy-efficient rolling stock carriages and modern signaling and control system.

The modern carriages are equipped with surveillance systems, hydraulic braking system and real-time track monitoring to ensure safety.

The coaches have exclusive seats for differently abled and women.

Mr. Takeo Konishi, Country Director for ADB in India

ADB financing for the project has two key components. One part is used to procure state-of-the-art carriages and to install an advanced signaling, train control, and platform access system for 58-km of metro lines. The second part is institutional support in establishing the Mumbai metro rail organization that will be responsible for managing the operation and maintenance of all upcoming metro lines in Mumbai. ADB will also help promote last-mile connectivity through electric vehicles and nonmotorized transport at select stations.

The state-of-the art control system will ultimately allow use of driver-less trains.

Provision of platform screen doors ensures additional passenger safety.

For long-term operation and maintenance of lines, ADB has helped establish a Metro Rail Operations Organization.

Women comprise 20% of its staff working on.

They are performing highly complex technical jobs such as station controller, depot controller, and train operator.

One “women-only metro station” will be established by December 2022 to be run by women staff.

Mr. Srinivas, Commissioner, MMRDA

It’s an effort of MMRDA to mainstream the gender in the execution of mega projects.

Ms. Pornima Jagatkar, Train Operator, Mumbai Metro rail.

When I had told my family about my plan to apply for the job of a train operator, they did not agree to it at first. Once I joined the service, they saw many other women working in different fields here and that there is safety and security for women staff. Now, my family is proud of me and are supportive of my decision to work in Mumbai Metro.

For interconnectivity, ADB is encouraging last mile solutions at the metro stations to include electric vehicles and bicycles.

Mumbai metro network is set to become a game changer towards safe, efficient, comfortable and clean public transport system.

Source: adb