The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) will issue detailed tenders for the 32.5-km Metro-3 by July 2014 and award the project by October 2014.

The project is expected to cost ₹23,136 crore.

The construction of the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ underground metro corridor, to be awarded on EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) basis, is expected to begin in January next year .

The Japan International Co-operation Agency will fund 57 per cent of the project cost.

“The Government of India and Government of Maharashtra-through MMRDA will bear the rest of the cost. The GoI will provide 50 per cent of Central Taxes as sub-debt while the balance 50 per cent shall be borne by the State Government. The GoM may also get a few exemptions from various local taxes — details of which are being worked out,” said Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director, MMRCL and Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.

14 locations Fourteen consortia responded for the pre-qualification process.

Sethi said ₹777 crore would be borne by the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) as the metro will pass through the MIAL area.

The Colaba-Seepz metro will have 27 stations of which 26 will be underground and one at Aarey Colony, Goregaon, on the ground level. The underground construction will be at a depth of 15-25 metres.

The construction of the metro is to be executed in seven packages at 14 locations.

The state government has also given permission to acquire 30 hectares in Aarey Colony, Goregaon, for a car depot. “There will not be permanent acquisition of private lands of more than four hectares. However, temporary acquisition may be needed for casting yard and other construction purposes,” he added.

Metro-3 is expected to carry 39,000 commuters an hour per direction (13.9 lakh commuters daily) in 2021 and 42,000 commuters an hour per direction (17 Lakh commuters daily) in the year 2031.

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