In a significant development, the Maharashtra administration, led by Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar, has given the nod to construct a car shed for Metro 6 in Kanjurmarg. This decision comes after years of opposition from the BJP and the union government.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has put the INR 506-crore project up for bidding. The project includes an administrative office, stable yard, personnel quarters, depot control centre, maintenance and workshop facilities, and a substation.
The elevated railway line spans 14.477 km. It will cross the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Powai Lake, and Lokhandwala Complex. It will include 13 stations and connect the Central Railway at Kanjurmarg and the Western Railway at Jogeshwari.
The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government halted the making of car sheds in Aarey Colony in 2019 due to protests from locals and environmental activists. This led to the decision to construct a multi-line integrated shed in Kanjur.
The proposal was initially rejected by Fadnavis, then-leader of the opposition, citing increased costs and development delays. The central government also expressed its reluctance as it claimed ownership of the land.
In a report by TOI, Sanjay Mukherjee, metropolitan commissioner for MMRDA, stated that the depot would span across 15 hectares and include a number of amenities. It includes 18 stabling lines, a workshop, a maintenance line, an automatic train wash area, an operational control centre, and staff quarters.
The project will be completed in 30 months from the time the letter of intent is received. Mukherjee also mentioned that the union government's lawsuit was quietly dropped once the Shinde-Fadnavis administration took office.
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