The removal of barricades erected for Mumbai's Metro 3 project has brought relief to local shopkeepers who suffered due to restricted customer access for years. Nearly 63% of the roads along the 33.5-km underground line have been restored. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has faced criticism for the slow progress of its road concretisation work, completing only 15% of the planned 397 km cement concrete roads across five zones. The civic body has promised to expedite the work post-monsoon but has also cancelled a major contract due to delays. As the city navigates these infrastructural challenges, citizens hope for timely completion to alleviate commuting woes.
The metro construction projects in Mumbai have been a double-edged sword for the city. While the underground Metro 3 line promises to revolutionise public transportation, the barricades erected during its construction have severely disrupted normal life and businesses in the affected areas for almost a decade. As the project nears completion, these barricades are gradually being removed, bringing relief to the local shopkeepers who have suffered due to restricted customer access. A recent example is the partial removal of barricades on D N Road, which connects the crucial CSMT and Churchgate railway stations.
According to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), nearly 63% of the roads across all seven packages of the 33.5-km-long Metro 3 line have already been restored. Of the total 28,885 metres of road barricaded, 18,123 metres have been cleared. The barricades on D N Road had left businesses in dire straits, with several shops reporting a substantial drop in revenue due to the lack of customer footfall. Shopkeepers are now hopeful that with the barricades gone, customers will flock back to their stores, reviving their fortunes.
MMRCL authorities report that 45% of the roads in the Cuffe Parade to Grant Road stretch and 81% of the roads in the Churchgate to Hutatma Chowk stretch have been restored to their original condition. Once the barricades are removed, MMRCL plans to plant 2,600 trees along the Metro 3 route, particularly above the stations, with 500 trees already planted at 13 stations. While the Metro 3 project progresses, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has faced criticism for the slow progress of its road concretisation work. According to former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar, the BMC has completed only 21 km (15%) of the planned 397 km of cement concrete (CC) roads across five zones in the city, despite the work being undertaken last year.
Narwekar has demanded penal action against the contractors responsible for the delays and has urged the BMC to issue show-cause notices, threatening blacklisting if the work is not expedited. The delay in road concretisation is expected to result in a bumpy ride for citizens during the monsoon season. The BMC has acknowledged the delay, citing the monsoon season as the reason for the current halt in work. It promises to resume the work post-monsoon and complete the remaining 70% of the first phase within the designated timeline.
Last year, the civic body had awarded contracts worth INR 26,080 crore for 397 km of road concretisation to five firms, but due to delays, it cancelled a INR 21,600 crore contract with Roadway Solutions India Infrastructure Ltd (RSIIL) for the 97 km of road concretisation in the island city. While the Metro 3 project promises improved public transportation, the disruptions caused by its construction and the slow progress of road concretisation work have tested the patience of Mumbaikars. As the city navigates these infrastructural challenges, citizens hope for timely completion of both projects to alleviate their commuting woes.
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