BMC set to lease out 17 plots to Metro Rail Corp.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be leasing out 17 plots to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) for a period of 30 years to construct the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ underground Metro corridor. As per the proposal with the civic body’s Improvements Committee, which will be discussed recently, the MMRC will pay a total of Rs. 287 crore as rent according to the current ready reckoner rate.

The proposal stated that these plots - some of which could be leased out temporarily and some permanently - are required to construct tunnels, railway stations, parking, etc. The agreement for the plots required for the five-year construction period will be renewed every 11 months, the proposal stated.

Meanwhile, for the permanent plots, after the 30-year-period, the BMC will renew the contract as per the ready reckoner rates prevalent then, it added.

The locations of these plots are Colaba, Woods Garden, Cuffe Parade, Bhatia Baug, CST, Nariman Point Fire Station, Vidhan Bhavan, Rotary Garden, Churchgate, the parking space opposite Eros Theatre, Hutatma Chowk Garden, BMC Education Department Office, Grant Road, a portion of Sane Guruji Chowk and Nair Road Chowk, Mahalaxmi, portion behind Siddhivinayak Temple, Vigyaan Bhavan, E Moses Road chowk, Acharya Atre Chowk, BMC Engineering hub in Worli, Marol naka, Marol village road and Marol Fire Station.

Earlier, the MMRC sought 24 plots from the BMC, of which the civic body held the approval of seven plots. These seven have already been leased out in the market for gardens, playgrounds, or hospitals; or belong to the state government; or are stuck in a legal dispute. It has been agreed that the MMRC will directly negotiate with the concerned parties for procuring these plots.

The construction of the 33.5 km underground corridor is divided in seven packages of four to five kilometers each. The bids for these packages are with the MMRC and will be awarded by January-end. The construction is expected to start by March 2016.

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