Keypoints:
- While the Metro would have cost the city Rs 13,095 crore, LURTS, which the babus are already referring to as ‘ Chhota Metro ‘, will cost only Rs 7,165 crore.
- A senior TMC official, who did not wish to be identified, said the project will be completed by 2025 and could “prove to be a game-changer” for Thane.
- Thane has chucked its proposed intra-city Metro line for a slimmer and cheaper Light Urban Rail Transit System.
Thane plans to come up with the idea of “Chota metro” providing feeder services to MMRDA’s green line 4 that will run between Wadala and Kasarvadavali in the neighbouring city.The metro will be linked to Thane station and the Central Railway’s proposed new station at Kopri apart from metro points. The Line 4 is a 32.32 km-long elevated corridor with 32 stations.
On Friday, the proposal for Light Metro Transit or Light Rapid Transit (LRT) ring route got listed for discussion at Thane Civic Body’s general meeting and received a formal sanction.
#BREAKING -Thane city's 'Chhota Metro' plan with 26 stations gets formal sanction of Thane Municipal Corporation. The proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) will be a feeder service for Mumbai Metro Green Line 4 (Wadala-Thane) being built by @MMRDAOfficial @mid_day pic.twitter.com/Reil7WGpF2
— Rajendra B. Aklekar (@rajtoday) December 23, 2020
The move on light metro costs less than a regular metro corridor, follows recommendations of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
While the gauge and top speed of the Light Metro will remain the same as the regular Metro (1,435 mm), it will have and smaller rakes.
The Light will consist of 22 stations, covering high-density pockets of Wagle Estate , Vijay Nagari, Waghbil, Kolshet and Rabodi. While the carrying capacity and speed of Light Metro is less compared to Metro trains, officials said it will be sufficient for Thane. “Thane city’s population is expected to grow to 27 lakh by the year 2025. Over 5.7 lakh passengers are likely to use the Light Metro services daily once it is fully operational,” said Deputy City Engineer (transport), TMC, Praveen Papalkar.
Light metro system is not only cost effective, but it also requires less land for stations and platforms. While Metro platforms need to be at least 4mt wide, the same for the Light Metro can be accommodated in just 1.5 mt wide space.
Metro carrying capacity
Regular Metro – 15,000 passengers
Light Metro – 12,703 passengers
Car size
Regular Metro – 2.90m width, 22m length
Light Metro – 2.65m width, 18m length
Cost comparison
Regular Metro (rolling stock, tracks, carshed and land) – 13,095 crore
Light Metro (rolling stock, tracks, carshed and land)
