Mumbai Metro 2A & 7: How the two new lines will benefit the city?

The two new Mumbai metro lines – 2A (Dahisar East-DN Nagar (Andheri West) and 7 (Andheri East-Dahisar East) have finally been completed after a two-year delay. On 19 January, about nine months after former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray opened the corridor's first phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two Metro rails.

The foundation stone of both the new Metro lines was laid by the PM in 2015. On Thursday, PM Modi flagged off the metro rails from Gundavali Metro station in Andheri and also undertook a metro ride from the station.

The Metro Line 2A connects Dahisar East and DN Nagar in Andheri West (yellow line) and is 18.6 kilometres long. There will be a total of 12 stations on this lines, connecting the western, central, and northern suburbs of Mumbai. The first metro on this line will leave Andheri West station at 5.55 am while the last will be at 9.24 pm.

The Metro will reduce the current travel time by 75 per cent, depending on road conditions. It will help to ease traffic congestion on one of Mumbai’s busiest routes – New Link Road from Dahisar East to DN Nagar. The Metro will also make it easier for Mumbaikars to connect to the suburban rail system and the Metro at Dahisar and DN Nagar.

Metro Line 7, which connects Andheri East and Dahisar East (red line), is around 16.5 kilometres long.  According to Livemint, the first metro on this route will start at 5.55 am from Gundavali station and the last one will depart at 9.24 pm.

The line will have 14 stations and will provide rail access to Mumbai International Airport (CSMIA), the SEEPZ, the National Park, and other landmarks. At Andheri, JVLR, and Dahisar, it will enable more effective and seamless interchange between the suburban rail network and Metro. It will link Mumbai’s central district with northern suburbs.

As per Indian Express, the Metro’s coaches, which are 85 per cent indigenous, were built by Bharat Earth Movers Limited. The metro can run at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour and there will be 28 trains of six cars. The report says driverless coaches will have, among other features, the newest signalling system. However, drivers will be present in the coaches for the initial period.

India Today quoted SVR Srinivas, commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), as saying that the metro rail can ferry 2,280 passengers per trip. Each coach has a capacity of 380 passengers. He said that each station will have CCTV cameras, security systems, and a female security guard.

The cost of the ticket is Rs 10 for three kilometres, with an additional fee beyond that. As per Times Now, the ticket will cost Rs 20 for three to 12 kilometres, and Rs 20 for distances of 12 to 18 kilometres. For 18 to 24 kilometres, the cost will be Rs 40, while for 24 to 30 kilometres, the price will be Rs 50.

For more stories, go to Firstpost