Mumbai Update - project news from Mumbai

[kshatriya]

Originally Posted by kronik

Why the heck is India still stuck on this bad bad tradition of netas inaugrating our infrastructure projects is something which i cant comprehend, but pi$$es the hell out of me.

Our projects need to be inaugrated by our soldiers, by the poorest amongst us, by our senior citizens, and by the engineers and workers who worked on them day and night and built them, and not by these immoral jackals who i have seen hold this country's progress to ransom since i started to make sense of things in life.

And we are the ones who elect these immoral jackals to represent us........

[kshatriya]

These projects will change the face of Thane

By: Renu Ojha
August 26, 2004


Lake City Mall at Kapurwadi

The project, which started five months ago, is being developed by High Land Builders and Developers.

The mall will be spread over an area of five lakh sq ft. It will have a Food Bazaar, Big Bazaar, a Pantaloons showroom and other shops. It is expected to be completed by June 2005.

The mall will also house a three-screen multiplex, food courts and free car parking for over 1,000 cars. It will also have glass elevators, central escalators, central air-conditioning and an entertainment zone.

Art Convention Centre

This Rs 300 crore project will be built in front of Upvan lake and at the foot of Yeoor hills. The Centre will have a 300-seat amphitheatre for dance, drama, one-act plays and other cultural activities.

The Centre will have a museum and a garden spread over 3.7 acres of land, food court for 100 people, ample parking space for employees as well as visitors, a library and fountain.

The project awaits government sanction, which is expected in the next four to five months.

Local trains within the city

The aim of this project is to decongest and divert traffic going towards the station. According to TMC, they will introduce a local train, which will take some load off the TMT buses and other local transport.

This train will be mounted on an elevated track at the height of nine metres. Phase I will involve laying down of a 16 km track connecting Teen Haath Naka via Naupada and across two flyovers up till the Cadbury Junction. The track will then return to the base station via Balkumbh along the creek behind Saket and Thane College.

Phase II will add another eight km to the train service (route has not been finalised yet).

Approximately over 4.5 lakh people are expected to use this facility.

This local service will have an access way to Thane station, as well as an exit for those who need to catch buses, autos, taxis and private vehicles.

This Rs 1,000 crore project is awaiting government clearance.

Remodelling of Thane station area

This Rs 10 crore project should be cleared by the government in the next three to four months. As per the plan, all buses plying towards the station will use a flyover and directly reach the planned local train service.

The bus stops will be on the deck area hence residents getting off trains from Thane station need not step out of the building to switch to other modes of transport. The buses will be diverted to Masunda Lake via a flyover to decongest the station road.

The project should be completed within 18 months from the day it is cleared by the government.

[Hindustani]

Suncity....

"The developers are currently constructing two, 60-story towers at the bottom of the Tardeo Hill"

Is it safe to assume that the Work on two 60 stories hasn't been interrepted & they are still going to be completed in time despite Legal hassles. There seems to be no Stay order.

[ViMo]

I can bet my coins that the IIT report won't be forthcoming. To begin with this was a narrow minded petition in first place. The SD corp had done it's homework in first place, after all they come with a solid reputation of doing some real massive projects in the country, for both the government and the private sector. You don't want to loose your future for the gains in your present!

[Suncity]

Originally Posted by Hindustani

Suncity....

"The developers are currently constructing two, 60-story towers at the bottom of the Tardeo Hill"

Is it safe to assume that the Work on two 60 stories hasn't been interrepted & they are still going to be completed in time despite Legal hassles. There seems to be no Stay order.

Yes development work is continuing.

[Hindustani]

JRD Tata Bridge


Mumbai Trans Harbour Sea link project:
(JRD Tata Bridge)
The island city of Mumbai is surrounded by sea from 3 sides. The port, majority of warehouses, godowns, business and commercial areas are located in southern end of the city. The growth over the years has been on the northern end.
Hence, road corridors in northern suburban areas are facing the brunt of heavy traffic trying to gain access to the business areasin south Mumbai leading to congestion of these corridors. In order to reduce the load of incoming traffic in city corridors, the State govt. has envisagated a 25 km. Trans Harbour road cum rail project across the harbour linking the main land and the Mumbai city.


Does anyone has more info on it. I believe this is different from Bandra Worli Sealink. I like to know more & how far this project has gone.

[Hindustani]

Here's some more news & whats new. a set back.


Nhava-Sewri link will not have railway line

Study indicates poor passenger numbers

Rajshri Mehta

Mumbai, August 25: The first phase of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour link will not have a railway line. A feasibility study has thrown up poor rail traffic projections.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will instead construct a 22.5-km six-lane sea link connecting Nhava in Navi Mumbai with Sewri in South Mumbai.



Global pre-qualification bids were issued on Tuesday inviting companies to participate in this Build-Operate-Transfer expressway venture.

The project, touted as the country’s longest sea link, has been on the drawing board for the past 20 years.

However, urban planners are unhappy with the current plan. They point out that rail travel is a preferred mode of transport for the common man.

‘‘Not only are the fares reasonable, railways are environment-friendly too,’’ a senior transport consultant told Newsline.

MSRDC’s Managing Director Anil Lakhina does not agree. ‘‘The present rail network can comfortably cater to the traffic between Navi Mumbai and CST. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mumbai Port Trust (also) have a rail connection,’’ says Lakhina.

MSRDC has gone ahead with the invitation for bids, but the project has been awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

An internal MSRDC report has also said that the Rs 2,600-crore project will be unviable if it depends only on toll revenues.

‘‘We are not going to invest a (single) penny,’’ Lakhina told Newsline. ‘‘We may increase the concessional period (of toll collection) from 30 to 40 years. Funds can also be raised through bonds.’’

[Hindustani]

Here is some more Old news

22.5km-long bridge planned
Mumbai |By Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent | 28-02-2004
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In a city where road and rail expansion is reaching a saturation point, the proposed 22.5 km bridge over the sea between Sewree and Navi Mumbai will ease both traffic congestion and air pollution.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Bridge, which will be called the JRD Tata bridge, will provide a eight-lane road and rail link from Sewree in Mumbai to Nhava in Navi Mumbai on the northern end of navigational channel of the Mumbai harbour.

"The first phase will involve the construction of a two-way, four-lane highway with the bridge being connected at many points," Anil Kumar Lakh-ina, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), told Gulf News.

"The Coastal Zone Management of Maharasthra state has already given an environmental clearance and has recommended a clearance of environmental permission from the Government of India. It is only a formality," he said.

The MSRDC has already invited bids for the project that is estimated to cost Rs18 billion and to be constructed in two years. Once constructed, it will be a boon for residents in both ends of the city-in South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai – who will be able to avoid traffic snarls in central and north-east Mumbai.

It would take less than 30 minutes to reach Navi Mumbai from Colaba whilst a commuter now spends one and a half hours by road.

When the lanes are extended and a rail link comes in place, the entire project is expected to bring substantial benefits to Mumbai in terms of economic development as well as reducing traffic congestion. The traffic dispersal system will be in the form of elevated roads and interchanges which will connect the important arteries from the southern, central and western parts of the city.

The provision of multistoried car parks in Sewree and shuttle bus services to South Mumbai will lessen the number of vehicles on the road.

The connection between the Mumbai port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust will also be made easier.

There will also be a faster access to the proposed domestic airport at Kopar in Navi Mumbai and proposed international airport at Mandwa.

India's longest sea link

• 22.5km bridge between Sewree and Navi Mumbai

• Four-lane dual carriage-way

• Total cost of project Rs18 billion

• What an environmentalist says: Even as an MSRDC advertisement on the proposed project surprised and pleased many, the environmentalists have a different take : "This is just a pre-election ploy by the state government, before the Election Commission's model code of conduct comes into place," says Debi Goenka of the Bombay Environmental Action Group.

• Those who are bidding for the project will also have to understand the risks as in the case of the much touted Bandra-Worli sea link project which has been mired in controversies.

• A payment dispute between the contractor and MSRDC brought construction to a halt.

[Ubermensch]

Yes, this has been on the cards for awhile now. Check this link: http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=128980

will give you an idea of where exactly this bridge will be.

[Hindustani]

Ubermensch.....Thanks. Link has been of little help. The latest from some indian construction website claims that Trans harbor will be completed by 2008. I dont know how its going to be when its not even started & is still in "planning" stage. If this happens it will really be great along with Bandra Worli Sealink which will be completed by 2007. But I doubt it.

[Ubermensch]

Originally Posted by Hindustani

Ubermensch.....Thanks. Link has been of little help. The latest from some indian construction website claims that Trans harbor will be completed by 2008. I dont know how its going to be when its not even started & is still in "planning" stage. If this happens it will really be great along with Bandra Worli Sealink which will be completed by 2007. But I doubt it.

My best guestimate (guess estimate) is that we will have the bandra-worli link, the worli colaba link and the JRD tata bridge done by 2010. Bandra-Worli should be done around 2007 actually, i beleive progress is slow but the bridge is only 3.5kms long for god sake

Lets see..

[kshatriya]

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

My best guestimate (guess estimate) is that we will have the bandra-worli link, the worli colaba link and the JRD tata bridge done by 2010. Bandra-Worli should be done around 2007 actually, i beleive progress is slow but the bridge is only 3.5kms long for god sake

Lets see..

We should have the Eastern and Western freeways (including all these bridges) by 2010, but by then we may need a lot more....

[kshatriya]

Here's the sad story of Mumbai's infrastructure - Though I doubt any other govt. could do much better.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...how/840230.cms

End of the road: Infrastructure projects did not take off
GIRISH KUBER

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2004 12:37:25 AM ]


MUMBAI: As the term of the Democratic Front government in the state comes to an end, many Mumbaikars may be singing this song as the fate of various road projects in the city hangs fire.

In fact, it’s not just roads, infrastructure in general has failed to take off during the Congress-NCP government’s five-year tenure. The combine began its reign amid the controversy over the proposed Pedder Road flyover.

As part of its mega transport management plan for Mumbai, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had mooted a proposal to build a road-over bridge from Haji Ali to Wilson College via Pedder Road.

However, the project was grounded even before it could take off as Pedder Road residents opposed the flyover, fearing congestion. The agitation gaind momentum and when the activists were joined by famous singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle, the then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was left with alternative but to shelve the project.

Another promising project, the Worli-Bandra Sea Link, has also been on the slow track. Following objections by environmentalists and wrangling over costs between the government and the main contractor, Hindustan Construction (HCC), work on the project came to a virtual standstill. The project was only revived recently.

Yet another sea link — 22.5 km link connecting Sewree in South Mumbai to Nhava Shiva in New Mumbai — also seems to be at sea. Probably with an eye on the impending assembly elections, the Shinde government recently invited bids for this project.

The Congress-NCP government’s biggest flip-flop was on the metro rail project in Mumbai. The Vilasrao Deshmukh government ‘in principal’ approved the Konkan Railway’s SkyBus proposal for the city, but never did anything to make it a reality.

The current team had reopened the debate on the Metro Rail. It asked the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) — it had earmarked Rs 100 crore for the SkyBus proposal — to prepare a feasibility report. Simultaneously, Mr Shinde also talked about an elevated rail project. Status: None of them is anywhere near takeoff.

It’s become a routine affair for every government to talk about transport using the sea, the current regime being no exception. The government invited bids and even signed a contract for water ways to connect the western suburbs to south Mumbai. However, the project couldn’t get off the ground.

It’s not just road projects that have failed to make any headway. The new international airport at Navi Mumbai is yet another example of a major project that has remained on paper. Land was earmarked for the project, roadsigns were erected, even an announcement was made, but the project has gonje into cold storage.

It’s a repeat story with the Rs 6,000- crore Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The government launched the project with much fanfare, and later handed it over to a consortium headed by Seaking promoter Nikhil Gandhi. Mr Gandhi is trying to achieve financial closure.

Besides these mega announcements, the government had also promised a scheme to make Mumbai slum-free. According to the Slum Rehabilitation Development (SRD) scheme, a builder willing to take part in this programme would have to provide free housing to slum dwellers and use the extra FSI to build and sell in the open market. The scheme has hardly any achievements to boast off.

Even the schemes that required no funding couldn’t be completed. For example, the government wanted to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling Act to make more land available for development. Despite a number of promises, Mr Shinde and his predecessor Mr Deshmukh failed to do so.
The government had also promised to enact the Maharashtra Infrastructure Development Act (Midas) that promises speedy clearance and implementation of infrastructure projects.

The Act offered to set up a nodal agency, the Infrastructure Authority, under the CM for a “one-window” clearance system for all infrastructure-related projects. But for reasons best known to the government, the Act remains where it is — on paper.

An international standard aquarium was another promise. So was a convention centre. Needless to say, not much has happened. A sad state of affairs for a city that contributes over Rs 65,000 crore to the national exchequer.

[Ubermensch]

Originally Posted by kshatriya

We should have the Eastern and Western freeways (including all these bridges) by 2010, but by then we may need a lot more....

True, I think that if these highways are about 3 - 4 lanes (each side) we should be set till about 2015. A very small % of Bombay's commuters use cars, and even in the US most ring roads are about 4 lanes on each side, however, you cant live in the US comfortably without a car! everyone drives!

Maybe with a good metro network, we wont need our cars for everday use? This might help balance things out and de-congest the roadways (Need to get rid of my car when I'm in NYC)

[kshatriya]

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

True, I think that if these highways are about 3 - 4 lanes (each side) we should be set till about 2015. A very small % of Bombay's commuters use cars, and even in the US most ring roads are about 4 lanes on each side, however, you cant live in the US comfortably without a car! everyone drives!

Maybe with a good metro network, we wont need our cars for everday use? This might help balance things out and de-congest the roadways (Need to get rid of my car when I'm in NYC)

They should have at least 4 lanes on each side....though a good metro and bus system is what is really required, fast.

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

True, I think that if these highways are about 3 - 4 lanes (each side) we should be set till about 2015. A very small % of Bombay's commuters use cars, and even in the US most ring roads are about 4 lanes on each side, however, you cant live in the US comfortably without a car! everyone drives!

Maybe with a good metro network, we wont need our cars for everday use? This might help balance things out and de-congest the roadways (Need to get rid of my car when I'm in NYC)

Wasn't the eastern expressway about 14 lanes????

[kshatriya]

Originally Posted by indian

Wasn't the eastern expressway about 14 lanes????

yes te eastern highway is being widened to 14 lanes (12+2 service lanes).

[theguy]

when is it due for completion?

[Hindustani]

Originally Posted by theguy

when is it due for completion?

2007

[ViMo]

Originally Posted by Hindustani

2007

I came to know it was 2005!