The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) officials are at loggerheads on when to start construction of Metro-II (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd).
While the MMRDA claims to have handed over 20 of the planned 32 kilometres to start work, RInfra wants Right of Way to the entire 32-km, including the necessary approvals from AAI, MoEF, PWD, Railway, BMC, etc. before the ground work commences.
A letter has already been sent by the MMRDA to RInfra asking them “to commence the construction immediately at the available hindrance-free stretches that have already been handed over”.
On the other hand, RInfra claims that the MMRDA has failed to complete its condition precedents like providing unencumbered Right of Way and environmental clearance for both the depot lands.
“We have learnt lessons during the construction of the first Metro corridor and will accordingly proceed with the second route. First, give us the entire Right of Way — there are issues even with the depot lands,” said Sumit Banerjee, chief executive officer, RInfra (roads and metros).
In the letter, the MMRDA has sternly mentioned that the Concession Agreement signed mentions that the project completion period was to be five years, and during the bhoomi pujan on August 18, 2009, RInfra had “assured to complete the project in less than five years”.