Have your say on city’s first underground Metro

Citizens who have objections or want to give suggestions on the city’s first underground Metro have time till January 11 to voice their opinion.

Citizens who have objections or want to give suggestions on the city’s first underground Metro have time till January 11 to voice their opinion.

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The Hindustan Times on December 7 had reported about the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) plans of holding a public meeting for the Colaba-SEEPZ Metro project in February.

“A social and environmental impact assessment study is being undertaken as per the Japanese International Cooperation Agency rules. Suggestions and objections for the same are invited from concerned stakeholders in writing,” the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation said in a notification.

Citizens can look at the plan of the underground Metro at the MMRDA office at Bandra-Kurla Complex, deputy director, town planning’s office at Azad Maidan, city collector’s office at Fort or the suburban collector’s office in Bandra.

The MMRDA is already being criticised for the delay in the construction of the elevated Metro line. The first Metro line between Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar has been inordinately delayed while the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro is stuck because of environmental issues.

There has also been rising opposition amongst the public over plans for an elevated Metro and many residents in the past suggested building an underground transport system.

The MMRDA paid heed to this suggestion and planned the line from Colaba to Andheri SEEPZ.

The MMRDA last month gave a presentation to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in an attempt to get state support to help expedite the line.

The 33km Metro will be built at a cost of Rs16,810 crore. This amount is likely to increase by the time work begins.

The underground Metro will connect the business districts such as Nariman Point, Bandra Kurla Complex, Andheri MIDC, SEEPZ and International Airport. This line will also be integrated with suburban train stations at Churchgate, CST, Mumbai Central and Mahalaxmi. It will be integrated with the two Metro lines at Marol Naka and Bandra Kurla Complex.