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This article was first published 9 years ago

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service

Last updated on: June 10, 2014 10:48 IST

Image: Mumbai Metro
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

With the newly launched Metro rail service, Mumbai has received a major infrastructure boost. 

Though a successful trial run was conducted in May 2013, the Metro was finally rolled out only on June 8.



Inputs: PTI

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service

Image: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, ADAG chairman Anil Ambani and wife Tina Ambani during the inauguration of the Metro rail.
Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

This comes as a welcome relief to passengers who travel in the crowded suburban trains that carry 7 lakh people every day.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

The 11.4 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch will have trains every four minutes and 12 elevated stations. 

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

The journey on the 11.4 km stretch will reduce to 20 minutes which otherwise takes around 90 minutes at present by road. 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service

Image: Painting on the station wall.
Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

The company said it will operate 200-250 services a day, carrying around 11 lakh passengers.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

Every coach can carry 375 passengers, while the entire train can transport 1,500 commuters. 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) and the state government have been locked in a dispute over the fares for quite some time.

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

The operator fixed a minimum fare of Rs 10 and a maximum of Rs 40 for a one way journey, going against the Maharashtra government's notified fare band of Rs 9-13, citing cost escalation in the three-phase project, work on which began eight years ago. 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

MMOPL is a joint venture company comprising Anil Ambani's Reliance Infrastructure, Veolia Transport and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

For a month you can travel anywhere on the route for just Rs 10.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

You can buy a smartcard for Rs 50 and recharge it according to your needs.

 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

The smartcards will be provided at all stations. These cards have to be punched before you start the journey and after you reach the destination, the fare will be deducted.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

The total cost of the project stands at Rs 4,321 crore.The trains on the route will start at from 5.30 a.m. and run till midnight. 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

The average speed of the Metro will be 33 km/hr.

Elevators and escalators will be provided in all Metro stations.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

Customer care centres will be operational in all stations.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

ATMs, food and beverage outlets will be set up in all stations. 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service

Image: Policemen travel in the Metro rail.
Photographs: Courtesy, Reliance Metro

The stations are designed on three levels – Road level for accessing the station easily, concourse level for ticketing and retail facilties and platform level for boarding and alighting.

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

Tactile flooring and a guide path will be helpful for the visually challenged passengers. 

Tags: Metro

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

Mumbai Metro is India's first public private partnership metro project in which construction, operation and maintenance were allotted to a private player.

Mumbai's pride: A swanky Metro rail service


Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

The total stretch of the Mumbai Metro will be built in three phases over a 15-year period.