The cost of the undergroundMetro 3project has escalated by over Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 33,406 crore from the original estimate of Rs 23,136 crore in 2016. When tenders were invited in 2016, the cost was based on the 2011 estimate.

The escalation proposal was submitted to the state finance department by theMumbai Metro Rail Corporation(MMRC), which is implementing the 33.5km rail link betweenCuffe Paradeand Seepz, in February.

It is also learnt that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding almost 60% of the total project cost, has not released funds for Metro 3 for the past year.