Mumbai:
The route of the proposed Mumbai Metro-III, from Colaba in South Mumbai to Bandra-Andheri in the western suburbs, could now go along the proposed coastal road to avoid the problem of shifting families from Girgaum and Kalbadevi, a predominantly Marathi-speaking locality.
In another new development, the metro’s car shed will also be located in an alternate route since the present location in Aarey Colony has invited the ire of residents as well as other Mumbaikars over the loss of the last few green open spaces in Mumbai.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the Legislative Council that a committee has been set up to suggest another location for the car shed and a decision would be taken only after the committee gives its recommendations. The construction of the car shed would have meant that 2,044 out of 2,298 trees would have to be transplanted and the rest hacked. There has been growing resentment among the people towards the construction of the car shed as well as other makeover plans by the civic body for the sprawling Aarey Colony.
The BJP-led government in Maharashtra, which has been trying to speed up projects in the city, has had to mollify Shiv Sena, its ally, since the latter had supported a protest by local residents of Girgaum and Kalbadevi. The locals here fear they would be shifted elsewhere and are anxious over losing their livelihood. Supporting the local Marathi population of this area, the Sena had demanded that Metro III be scrapped.
After Fadnavis said that the Metro’s new route would be studied, Sena’s youth wing leader and son of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya, tweeted, “Heard the Government of Maharashtra has put the Metro 3 project on hold, respecting the sentiments of Mumbaikars and Mumbai. Great news.
“This is a victory of each and every Mumbaikar who voiced their opinion against the metro which was ill-planned and needs better planning.”
A group from The Netherlands has been asked to study the new alignment of the metro along the coastal road. The coastal road is proposed from Nariman Point to Malad, a western suburb, with two undersea tunnels at Marine Drive and Juhu beach.
The 36-km coastal road which will reduce travel time to 45 minutes will “come up in a few years,” said Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change during his visit to Mumbai two days back. “Air pollution is mostly due to vehicular pollution and the coastal road will decongest other roads and reduce pollution.”
