Maharashtra govt, development body spar over building garden below metro line

The tussle between the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) continues. After the logo and fare issues, they have now locked horns over the beautification and maintenance of the median on the road below the elevated Metro I line.

The tussle between the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) continues. After the logo and fare issues, they have now locked horns over the beautification and maintenance of the median on the road below the elevated Metro I line.

According to information accessed by RTI activist Anil Galgali, in March 2012 MMOPL had asked Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to allow it to develop a garden on the median and maintain it as per the provisions of the concession agreement.

Subsequently, in January 2013, MMRDA gave a green signal to the plan with certain conditions, which included restrictions on commercial exploitation.

However, MMOPL did not carry out the beautification and maintenance work, forcing the MMRDA to write to it last month.

“Despite initiating the plan to decorate the flower beds on the median, MMOPL has not begun work on it in two years,” said Galgali, demanding strict action against MMOPL for noncompliance.

An MMOPL spokesperson said “As per the provisions of the Concession Agreement, MMOPL is responsible only for maintenance of the median. The beautification of the media will be undertaken by voluntary efforts, wherever forthcoming.”

Galgali also informed the RTI replies show that repair of roads, sewage pipeline and footpath along the metro line comes under the civic agency’s purview.