MMRDA mulling realigning Bhiwandi-Kalyan stretch of metro 5 corridor

Town planning authority MMRDA on Friday said it is mulling realignment of a stretch of Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan metro 5 corridor, following mounting opposition from shopkeepers and residents of Bhiwandi.

Taking cognisance of protests by locals of Bhiwandi, Maharashtra Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde h directed Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), project implementing agency, to consider changing route.

"re is an opposition from locals regarding alignment of route between Kalyan-Bhiwandi stretch. We are now looking at all possibilities if re can be a realignment or tweaking of route on that stretch," MMRDA Commissioner R A Rajeev told reporters.

Work on first phase of project from Thane to Bhiwandi has begun after a contractor was appointed in September 2019. However, work from Bhiwandi to Kalyan is yet to start. When asked if realignment would result in cost escalation, Rajeev said it would be decided when project (between Bhiwandi and Kalyan) would be tendered. metro corridor has witnessed demands for realigning line from Durgi to harwi chowk and from Khakpa to Birla College.

proposed 24.9 km-long elevated Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan corridor will have 17 stations and will cost Rs 8,416 crore. It will connect Thane to Bhiwandi and Kalyan in eastern suburbs.

stations include Kapurbawdi in Thane (West), Balkum Naka, Kasheli, Kalher, Purna, Anjur Phata, Dhamankar Naka, Bhiwandi, Gopal Nagar, Temghar, Rajnouli Village, Govegaon MIDC, Kongaon, Durgi Fort, Sahajanand Chowk and Kalyan Railway Station.