As two more Metro lines get the green signal, activists push for Metro 3 car depot site to be moved from Aarey to Kanjurmarg, since that can serve all the new routes and save money
Aerial view of the suggested plot at Kanjurmarg
All this time, the Metro authorities have insisted on building a new car depot in the ecologically rich Aarey Colony, arguing that it ill be too expensive too move to the alternate site at Kanjurmarg. Now, that the state cabinet has approved the proposals for two new Metro lines, however, it actually looks like moving the depot to Kanjurmarg may end up saving twice the money it will cost.
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Green activists have been staunchly opposed to the construction of the car depot in Aarey for Metro Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz), since it could harm the local wildlife there. They even approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which imposed a ban on any development in the green pocket. Following widespread protests, CM Devendra Fadnavis then commissioned an expert panel to recommend a solution. This expert panel recommended that there was a vacant 50-hectare plot in Kanjurmarg that would be ideal. However, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) said that the Kanjurmarg land was too marshy and it would cost them an extra R1,500 crore to level and strengthen the ground.
New lines
The situation is very different now. On Tuesday, the CM’s cabinet cleared two new elevated Metro corridors costing R25,000 crore — the DN Nagar-Bandra-Mankhurd route (Line 2B) and the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavli route (Line 4).
After this announcement, activists have pointed out that the Kanjurmarg plot falls right in the centre and a single depot built there can serve all three routes (Lines 3, 2B and 4).
“This will save a lot of money. Building each depot costs at least R1,000 crore, so by that calculation, if a common depot is built for these lines, it will save about Rs 3,500 crore,” said an official from the MMRC.
In addition, the authorities are planning another line between Seepz and Kanjurmarg, which can also benefit from the depot.
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