The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) faces an uphill battle to convince the citizens for one of its most ambitious projects, Colaba-Bandra-Seepz (Metro Line-III) corridor, with an increasing number of environmentalists and transport experts coming out against it.

Even though officials from MMRDA claim that they will successfully construct the 33.5-km fully underground line, environmentalists are planning to oppose it, as they are unhappy with the planning authority’s intent to construct a depot at Aarey colony, Goregaon, which falls under the buffer zone in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) At a public hearing to assess the environmental and social impact of the Rs 21,752 crore (at 2011 levels) line, which was held yesterday, MMRDA invited the concerned citizens to raise their suggestions and objections.