shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Mumbai > Mumbai News > Article > Want Kanjurmarg land not Aarey for Metro depot

"Want Kanjurmarg land, not Aarey, for Metro depot"

Updated on: 17 July,2016 08:26 AM IST  | 
Ranjeet Jadhav | ranjeet.jadhav@mid-day.com

In a revelation that will be a shot in the arm of save Aarey supporters, tired of delay caused by protests and escalating costs, MMRC had turned to Kanjurmarg for car depot site last November; ball in CM's court

Aarey Milk Colony just might escape the chopping block. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation that is building the city’s metro rail network, has apparently given up on the idea of a metro car shed at Aarey and wants to construct it at Kanjurmarg instead. The Save Aarey group had, for months, been protesting vehemently against the state’s decision to build the car shed in the area. Through 2015 and 2016 mid-day has, along with the Save Aarey group, pursued efforts to prove to the state government and the MMRC that Aarey is an important green belt in the city and needs to be protected.


In November 2015, MMRC wrote to the state government asking them to hand over a 41-hectare plot in Kanjurmarg, near the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, where they will construct a car depot instead of the one planned at Aarey Milk Colony
In November 2015, MMRC wrote to the state government asking them to hand over a 41-hectare plot in Kanjurmarg, near the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, where they will construct a car depot instead of the one planned at Aarey Milk Colony


Last year, citing pleas by citizens against the Aarey plan, MMRC had written a letter to the state government about changing the site of the depot. The copy of the letter is with mid-day.


Also read: 4 lakh trees in Aarey, but Mumbai Metro bosses insist it's not a forest

Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Fadnavis

The car depot is needed for the city’s first underground Metro corridor, a 33.5-kilometre stretch from Colaba to Seepz via Bandra. A depot is used for stabling trains, their maintenance and coordination.

The Kanjurmarg plot where MMRC said it could build the car depot. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
The Kanjurmarg plot where MMRC said it could build the car depot. Pic/Sneha Kharabe

MMRC is of the opinion that if the depot is constructed at Kanjurmarg, there would be no need to construct another car shed for the proposed JVLR-Kanjurmarg line.

Also read: Save Aarey: Activists identify litigation-free plot in Kanjurmarg for Metro car depot

Interestingly, while the state had, last year itself, accepted MMRC’s recommendation, it is worried about the extra cost of Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 crore for levelling and preparing the Kanjurmarg land, sources said. MMRC’s decision to opt for Kanjurmarg was revealed after a member of the Save Aarey group filed an RTI with MMRC and received in reply the letter written to the Secretary, Forest and Revenue Department, asking that the car shed site be moved to Kanjurmarg.

On November 5, last year, MMRC had written to the state requesting 41 hectares of land at Kanjurmarg for the depot and allied facilities. MMRC’s letter states, “Earlier, a 30-hectare plot in Aarey was identified as a car depot and the same was approved. However, considering protests by citizens against the construction of the car depot in Aarey, the state government constituted a committee to identify suitable alternative sites for the car shed.”

MMRC’s letter states, “The government of Maharashtra vide letter dated 16/10/2015 has accepted the recommendations of the committee. Vide this letter, it is approved to construct the main depot of line-3 at Kanjurmarg by integrating Colab-Seepz (MML-3) corridor with Jogeshwari Kanjurmarg Corridor...”

The state government’s dillydallying on the decision is seeing a rapid escalation in the cost of building the Metro 3 corridor. The original cost of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro line was Rs 23,136 crore and this has escalated by more than Rs 1,500 crore already, a source from MMRC said.

Ashwini Bhide, managing director, MMRC, said, “We had written this letter in November and had also sent a modified plan for the Aarey metro car depot. But, it’s the state government who has to finally decide. Now that the work for the Metro has been awarded, we cannot wait any longer. Also, Kanjurmarg is far from our Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro line, so that too has to be considered.”

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK