MMRDA scraps separate car sheds for Metro 9 and Metro 6, will use shared depots

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has cancelled two proposals to build separate car sheds for metro projects. A separate car shed had been planned at Uttan Dongri for Metro Line 9 and at Pahadi Goregaon for Metro Line 6.

The MMRDA has now decided that instead of building a separate car shed for each metro line, trains of different lines will be maintained at a single depot. The decision is expected to reduce project costs and ease land acquisition problems.

It will also spare about 12,000 trees that would have been affected by the proposed car shed at Uttan Dongri.

According to MMRDA officials, a separate car shed is not necessary in the initial phase after each metro line opens. Trains of interconnected lines can be maintained at a shared depot. This will reduce the cost of building a new car shed and the need for large-scale land acquisition.

Metro 9 trains to be maintained at Charkop depot

Trains of Metro Line 9, which runs between Dahisar East and Mira-Bhayandar, will be maintained at the Charkop depot. The depot is currently used for Metro Line 7. Metro 9 is a further extension of Metro 7.

Metro 7A, which is being built between Andheri East and the airport, will also be linked to the same network. The MMRDA says it is therefore possible to maintain the trains of all three lines at one depot. Preparations are also under way to start passenger services on Metro 9 soon.

Pit line instead of car shed for Metro 6

The proposal to build a separate car shed at Pahadi Goregaon for Metro Line 6, which will connect Swami Samarth Nagar with Vikhroli via Jogeshwari, has also been cancelled. Construction of the line, which is about 14.5 km long, is in its final phase. A pit line will be used to maintain its trains.

A pit line is a special rail track built for inspecting and repairing the underside of metro trains. It allows technicians to examine the undercarriage without lifting the entire coaches.

Earlier, a car shed for Metro 6 had been planned at Kanjurmarg. That proposal could not move forward because of obstacles related to land acquisition. A pit line has now been chosen instead of a separate car shed for Metro 6.

Shared facilities considered for Metro 4 and 6

Metro Line 6 will be connected to Metro Line 4, which is being built between Wadala and Kasarvadavali. Shared maintenance facilities could therefore be used for both lines. If the need for a separate car shed reduces, the cost of additional land acquisition and construction could also be saved.

Work is currently under way on 13 metro lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. However, the MMRDA has so far built only two car sheds, and work on another depot at Kasheli is continuing.

While deciding sites for car sheds for different metro projects, the authority has faced several problems, including land acquisition, environmental objections and opposition from local residents. For this reason the MMRDA has pressed the option of shared depots for more than one metro line.