Need our nod to build Mumbai metro car shed in Aarey, BMC tells Maharashtra govt

The Shiv Sena, the BMC’s ruling party, has been against the plan to build a car shed inside Aarey. Citizens too have been campaigning against the government’s plan, worried that it may destroy one of the few green spaces Mumbai has left

The change in land-use rules to convert 33 hectares of Aarey Colony — a green lung and no-development zone — to a metro car shed will be allowed only if stakeholders like the forest and environment ministries and the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation give no-objection certificates, the BMC has told the state government.

More than 2,000 trees may have to be cut to make space for the metro car shed at Aarey Colony. (Hindustan Times)

The Shiv Sena, the BMC’s ruling party, has been against the plan to build a car shed inside Aarey. Citizens too have been campaigning against the government’s plan, worried that it may destroy one of the few green spaces Mumbai has left — more than 2,000 trees will have to be cut to make way for it.

READ: Hundreds of trees cut, water bodies destroyed for Mumbai Metro, says NGO

In December 2016, the state urban development department issued a notification for the change in land-use rules for the 33 hectares.

It invited suggestions and objections from government agencies and citizens.

A senior BMC official said the change in land-use rules had to be notified under the Development Plan (DP) 1991, which had marked the entire area a no-development zone.

BMC’s statement to the government has now been sent to the improvements committee, which will meet on Thursday.