The first metro rail corridor project in Mumbai moves forward with a Chinese company bagging the Rs 604 crore (Rs 6.04 billion) contract to supply 16 trains.

The 11.4-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor is set to be operational by 2010-end.

Mumbai Metro One, the special purpose vehicle formed to undertake construction, has selected CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Company -- a 100-year-old subsidiary of the government-owned China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation.

Officials say the first four-coach train will be rolled out within 18 months and all 16 trains in the next two years.

The contract for first metro line was awarded to a consortium lead by Reliance Energy [Get Quote]. Mumbai Metro One hopes the project to finish in less than three years.

CSR Nanjing Puzhen has been manufacturing metro rail cars since 2000 and has supplied light rail vehicles to MRT Hong Kong. It is currently manufacturing electric multiple unit trains for Georgia to run at 130 km per hour.

Nearly 450 metro cars supplied by CSR Nanjing are running across the world with about 750 more under manufacture and delivery.