MMRDA secures land for two new metro lines in Mumbai

Both metro lines will pass through areas with poor rail connectivity, such as Charkop, Lokhandwala, and IC Colony in Borivli

There is good news in store for two upcoming metro projects — Metro 2A and Metro 7 — as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has managed to secure land parcels to build car depots. The development means the progress of these metro lines is not affected because the construction of a depot is necessary before the lines are built.

Both metro lines will pass through areas with poor rail connectivity, such as Charkop, Lokhandwala, and IC Colony in Borivli. (File photo)

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has agreed to move its existing receiving station in Dahisar to Gorai, where the MMRDA has provided an alternate land. The development means the MMRDA will get AAI’s 17-hectare land at Dahisar for a depot as part of the 18-km Dahisar E-Andheri E Metro 7 line.

The MMRDA had given the AAI two options to relocate its receiving station — one in Gorai and another in Mankhurd. AAI officials preferred the land at Gorai because it wanted a noise-free area.

The MMRDA has also decided to scrap the plan to acquire private land for the depot of the 18-km Dahisar-DN Nagar Metro 2 line. Earlier, the MMRDA had plans to use parts of the land under Manjra trust in Charkop. Now, it will build a depot on 16 hectares of land under its own jurisdiction.

“We have made some changes in the design of the metro depot. So, we will not acquire a part of the trust’s land,” said UPS Madan, MMRDA commissioner.

Both metro lines will pass through areas with poor rail connectivity, such as Charkop, Lokhandwala, and IC Colony in Borivli.

Searching for land parcels has been tough for MMRDA officials because of their scarcity and the ones that are available are liable to stringent green norms.

An earlier version of the Metro 2 project was scrapped owing to green hurdles. The Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro 3 project has been stuck after protests by environmentalists to build a depot at Aarey Colony, fearing damage to the green cover.

THE PROJECT

Cost

Metro 2A: Rs6,410 crore.

Metro 7: Rs8,100 crore

Deadline

For both projects: 2019