Mumbai: Metro services were thrown open to Mumbaikars with Chief Minister Prithivraj Chavan inaugurating the much-awaited project at Versova on Sunday morning. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar too was present at the historic moment.
Reliance Industries head Anil Ambani, wife Tina Ambani and BJP leaders Poonam Mahajan and Kirit Somaiya were amongst the early riders.
In much relief to the commuters in the bustling metropolis, the 11.4 km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch was finally made available to the public after much criticised delay. The Versova-Ghatkopar stretch is Phase 1 of the project.
The city where the overburdened suburban railways ferries seventy lakh people every day, can now enjoy metro service at every 4 minutes.
The services will start 5.30 a.m. and continue till midnight with a total of 16 rakes deployed on the sector, serving the glamour and IT centres of Versova and the business and manufacturing areas of Ghatkopar at an 80 kmph speed.
Each of the colourful rakes with four coaches will have a capacity of around 375 commuters or around 1,500 commuters per service, zooming above the city between the two points – Versova-Ghatkopar – with a total of 12 elevated stations en route.
MMOPL is a joint venture company comprising Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure, Veolia Transport and the MMRDA.