“Navi Mumbai faces frequent power cuts that could trouble the Metro, so we have decided to generate electricity on our own,” said G S Gill, vice-chairman and managing director, CIDCO.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority budget has also sanctioned Rs 10 crore for power generation. In any case, the Mumbai Metro, unlike the project in Navi Mumbai, covers mostly areas that don’t suffer chronic load-shedding.

CIDCO had appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as consultant to prepare a feasibility report. In a report submitted to CIDCO last week, DMRC had suggested two corridors in Phase I - Nerul-Uran and a ring route from Belapur to Mansarovar via Kharghar and Kalamboli.

CIDCO plans to generate electricity in a somewhat eco-friendly manner. “In a city like Navi Mumbai, the generation of electricity cannot be coal-based, so we have decided to use gas. The necessary arrangements like laying gas pipelines can be done with the help of central government (through its oil companies),” Gill said.

Uran, which borders Navi Mumbai, also houses the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, which could be a boon for CIDCO while laying pipes.

CIDCO is yet to decide on how much electricity needs to be generated. “The consultants have advised us to build the Metro by 2015. So we are yet to take any decision,” Gill said. DMRC has suggested taking up Metro corridors phase by phase. The other corridors would only be needed after a relook at the masterplan in 2021. The 27-km Nerul-Uran corridor is due for completion by 2015.

The proposed corridors will cost around Rs 140 crore per km. The cost of the Mumbai Metro is between Rs 200 crore and Rs 250 crore a km.