With the state government contemplating seeking Metro Man E Sreedharan's help for implementing the Phase III (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz (CBS) corridor) of the Metro rail project, there is likelihood that unlike Phase I (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar [VAG] corridor) and Phase II (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd [CBM] corridor), the third corridor will meet its deadline.

A senior Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) official said, "In the last meeting, CM Prithviraj Chavan instructed us that if possible, we should try and seek expertise and experience of Metro Man E Sreedharan while implementing the CBS project. Considering his age, it appears impossible for him to help use fulltime, but we can definitely seek his guidance during the implementation of Phase III. Unlike the VAG and CBM corridors that have been constructed using Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, using his extraordinary experience, line three will be constructed on Cash Contract model."

In a letter written to the state government in 2009, Sreedharan had clearly mentioned that across the world, Metro projects based on BOT model have been a failure. Taking note of the same, the government now plans to implement Metro line III on Cash Contract model or DMRC model.

Behind schedule
During his Mumbai visit in 2010, Sreedharan had said that the VAG corridor that is being constructed by a private firm, and executed on BOT model, was way behind schedule. He had also mentioned that private players undertake such projects only when they get high returns.

DMRC model?
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) model is similar to Cash Contract model, where a government itself funds the project and appoints contractors to carry out the work on its behalf. The major advantage of this model is that the government can keep a tab on the work status, and it is cheaper in comparison to the PPP model.