Mumbai Metro Train

Mumbai Metro Train

In a major boost to Metro rail projects in Mumbai, the government has decided to allow the construction of commercial complexes, not exceeding 4,000 sq m in size, above the stations.

The Development Control Rules (DCR) will be amended soon to clear “aerial development” above the Metro stations. mumbai_metro

The government has, though, made it mandatory for the Metro developer to provide adequate parking space within a 100-m radius of the Metro station, keeping in mind the number of private vehicles that are likely to turn up at the complexes.
Officials in the state urban development department told TOI that once the DCR was amended, developers bagging other lines of the nine proposed Metro routes could get the same benefit. “In all probability, the benefit of aerial development can be extended to the consortium bagging the second line—Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd—for which bids have been invited,” said an official.

Officials said Reliance Energyled Mumbai Metro One Pvt LTd (MMOPL), developer of the first Metro line covering Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG), had been seeking permission to construct a complex over stations to make the capital-intensive project feasible. The VAG corridor, comprising 12 stations, was estimated to cost Rs 2,356 crore.

“They (MMOPL) said commercial development above stations would make the overall project viable in the long run. They assured the government of finding enough parking space around all 12 stations on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route,” said a senior UD official.

The VAG corridor has stations at Versova, D N Nagar, Azad Nagar, Andheri, Western Express Highway, Chakala, Airport Road, Marol, Saki Naka, Subhash Nagar, Asalpha and Ghatkopar.

An average of 6 lakh people are expected to use this east-west corridor every day once its ready.