Mumbai metro rail may start running in 2012

In spite of the delays and problems encountered, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is pushing hard to complete the Metro and monorail projects and hopes to get them up and running next year.Over the last few months, the authority has managed to make significant progress on the Metro and monorail fronts. MMRDA joint project director Dilip Kawathkar said that the progress on the 11.4-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar line was good. After the railways gave all requisite permissions, work on the 180-m steel bridge across the railway tracks near Andheri station has been sped up. The plans for the bridge were stuck for a year as the railways insisted on a new design in keeping with their safety standards.In addition, said Kawathkar, there was also progress on the construction of the cable-stayed bridge over Jog flyover on the Western Express Highway.In the case of the monorail project, four rakes are already parked in Wadala depot. The construction of the seven stations along the first line of the monorail is progressing well, added Kawathkar. Both Metro and monorail projects will be tested thoroughly before they begin their regular runs, said Kawathkar.