Mumbaiites to protest against elevated metro on August 11

Experts and residents had proposed an underground line to avoid running over existing structures and causing more traffic congestion.

After writing to the chief minister several times about the elevated DN Nagar-Mankhurd metro line, which they said will pass through school grounds and other open spaces, residents of Bandra, Khar and Santacruz plan to take to the streets to protest against it. Residents, activists and school students will take part in the protest on SV Road on August 11 to ask for an underground metro line.

The petition on change.org now has more than 1,300 signatures in addition to the 1,000 on paper. (HT)

Experts and residents had proposed an underground line to avoid running over existing structures and causing more traffic congestion.

Architect Nitin Killawala said they had put up an online petition for an underground metro that would not only reduce the distance between Kurla and Mankhurd by 1.5km, but also save the open spaces from destruction.

The petition on change.org now has more than 1,300 signatures in addition to the 1,000 on paper.

Anandini Thakoor, trustee of Bandra (West) Federation, said, “It has to be an underground metro or no metro. We are not against it, but an elevated line will hinder future development. We would rather have no metro at all.”

Thakoor added that they will file a public interest litigation soon.

HT had reported last month that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had finished the tendering process for the 23.5km metro line and could not adopt any suggestions now. The project, which costs about Rs10,000 crore is to be completed by 2019.

Ashish Shelar , Bandra MLA and chief of BJP’s Mumbai unit, said, “We will make sure schools are not affected while constructing the metro line. The MMRDA is going ahead with the project but I will take this up with the chief minister.”