The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 73 per cent of the pillar work on the upcoming six new Mumbai Metro lines in the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR).

Out of the total 4,929 pillars for the six metro lines, a total of 3,603 pillars have been successfully erected by the authority. These pillars serve as the foundation for the extensive 113-km-long metro network.

According to the MMRDA, pillars for most of the lines are 50 per cent complete.

This includes 614 out of 1,109 pillars on Metro 2B (D N Nagar-Mandale); 973 out of 1,476 and 143 out of 221 pillars on Metro-4 and 4A (Wadala-Kasarvadavali) respectively; 440 out of 464 pillars on Metro-5 Phase-I (Thane-Bhiwandi); 657 out of 768 pillars on Metro-6 (Swami Samarth Nagar-Vikhroli) and 776 out of 900 pillars on Metro-9 (Dahisar-Mira Bhayander).

Minimising Inconvenience To Commuter

However, their construction has caused inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians due to road closures and disruptions.

“The construction of the elevated Metro, along with the heavy traffic issue and other activities is ongoing. There are challenges and numerous uncertainties that we encounter during construction. Most of the work is carried out during the night to minimise traffic disturbance and ensure safety,” said an MMRDA official.

To minimise inconvenience, pre-case elements such as pier caps, U-girders, and I-girders are produced at different casting yards, transported to the location during the night time and then, erected at specific sites using cranes with capacities ranging from 350 MT to 500 MT.

The MMRDA has prioritised the completion of all Mumbai Metro corridors as quickly as possible.

Once the entire metro network is finished, it is expected to bring about significant changes in the travel patterns of Mumbaikars, benefiting daily commuters and tourists alike.