The state government has to bear big losses as the protest against the on-going Metro 3 project in Mumbai is increasing day by day. The Coloba-Bandra-Seepz Metro 3 work is currently facing many obstacles by local citizens, NGOs and social activist. If Metro 3 work halts each day, it will have to bear a loss of Rs 4.20 crore and Rs. 1,533 crore per year. Also, due to this rising oppose to the project, the cost of the project will also be increased, said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.
“Earlier we faced many obstacles due to the protest to Aarey Carshade, the rehabilitation of Girgaum residents, oppose by the Parsi community, but eventually we are getting positive outcomes to resolve this issues. The common people of Mumbai should support Metro 3 as it is going to benefit them in many ways. I am confident this dream project of Metro 3 will come into reality from 2021,” said Bhide in the Facebook Live conversation of ‘My Mahanagar’ on Friday.
The protest by the NGO for Aarey Kurshad has already wasted 7 months, this has just not stopped the work but the project cost has also increased as the work is delayed due to the protest. The additional cost of the project will need to be recovered, she added.
Metro 3 cannot be completed without Metro Carshade. Environmentalists who have opposed this project have never interacted with us directly. This protest remained confined to the media and news only. 52 trains of 8 coaches will run for Mumbai’s 17 lakh passengers. Therefore the Carshade Depot is expected at the project’s terminus. Hence we decided to take Aarey’s place. There is no place anywhere in Mumbai for setting up Carshade Depot. More number of Trees has been planted in Sanjay Gandhi National Park as compared to the trees that would have been cut for Metro3. If the environmentalists come with positive role and bring out good points, then it will definitely benefit the project but they are only up to protest, said Bhide.
Due to the opposition of the Parsi community, many changes have been made in the design of the existing metro project. All these things are expensive and time consuming. Many environmentalists suggested that the Kanjur dumping ground should be replaced by a Carshade but the Metro project will end at Seepz. Therefore, Aarey was chosen as a place near Terminus. There is a distance of 10 kilometers between Seepz and Kanjurmarg. While providing services to nearly 17 lakh Mumbaikars, this extension of 10km is going to increase the cost of the project. Moreover, the vacant travel of Metro for this distance will not be affordable. The planning of the project is done by considering many things.
The cost of the project is expected to increase by Rs. 1,000 crores if daily we have to bear losses due to the protest. Also the estimated completion of the project by December 2020 will also delayed by June 2021, she added.
Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.
Aarey Karshed Depot requires a total of 25 hectares of land. The work of Carshade Depot has already been started on 10 hectares with the permission. But tree cutting is required for the remaining 15 hectares and we will be taking permission for this from Tree Cutting Authority. This permission is expected to get within 2 months then the carshade work will be started on this area too.
Barriers to the Metro 3 project
Due to the noise during the piling work, South Mumbai resident approached the High Court.
Vanashakti NGO approached the court against the Aarey Carshad
The ‘Koli Women’ (fishing sellers) in opposed to leave Chira Bazar fish market in Girgaum.
Residents of the rehabilitated people of Girgaum approached the court.
In South Mumbai, Parsi society opposed the project
