In a first such exercise in the Mumbai metro, a team of National Security Guards (NSG) will be carrying out a security survey at different Metro corridors in the city. The reconnaissance exercise will be held to assess the security establishment of the Metro rail network.
The threat assessment operation will be conducted in different stretches of the now-operational Metro 1 (Versova-Ghatkopar-Andheri), partially functioning Metro 2A and 7 (Dahanukarwadi-Dahisar-Aarey) lines as well as the under-construction Metro 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz).
The NSG team will be inspecting the network for one week, officials told the media. Though the NSG had conducted a security drill at CSMT railway station earlier, this is the first time that the commandos are taking stock of the security measures of Metro networks in Mumbai.
According to a senior Metro official, Mumbai is prone to become a target of terror groups due to its strategic importance. The NSG will be inspecting the network to find loopholes if any in the security apparatus. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) authorities recently announced that Phase I of Mumbai’s first underground metro line will be ready for operations by December next year. According to S K Gupta, Director (Projects), MMRCL, the project’s first phase between Aarey Milk Colony and Bandra-Kurla Complex will be functional by December 2023. Over 77 percent of work on the 33.5-km-long Bandra-Colaba-SEEPZ line, including the tunnelling, has already been completed.
With the completion of all tunnelling works, the MMRCL also announced the removal of all barricades on city roads. The authorities will be beginning the restoration of roads soon.
The MMRL is planning to attract more passengers by augmenting its facilities. Recently, they extended the operating hours of the Metro. Now, the first service starts at 5:30 am, while the final metro train will run from Versova at 11:20 pm and from Ghatkopar at 11:45 pm.
In November, Metro One launched its self-service WhatsApp eTicketing. Commuters can now make reservations from any location at any time.
