The 15 hectares of land at Kanjurmarg for the Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli Metro 6 carshed will be taken over by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in the next three to four days. All the process of transfer of land has been completed by the Collector of Suburban Mumbai. Now only if there are any problems in the future regarding the land or if some financial compensation has to be paid, a guarantee letter will have to be taken from MMRDA regarding the responsibility in this regard.
The proposed Kanjurmarg car shed on Metro 6 was embroiled in controversy. The MMRDA had also explored alternative sites. But as the government and MMRDA were firm on the Kanjurmarg area, other options were sidelined. Meanwhile, the carshed was stuck when Metro 6 was over 66 percent complete and MMRDA planned to put the route into service by 2025. MMRDA was worried because of this. But now the state government has cleared the way for the car shed.
Revenue Department ordered that of 41 hectares of Kanjurmarg land number 657 in sector number 275, 15 hectares of land should be given to MMRDA for metro car 6 car shed, Mumbai Suburban Collector Rajendra Bhosle informed Loksatta.
As per this order all the transfer process has been completed. Also the necessary permission has been taken from the Advocate General. Now only a guarantee letter from MMRDA is left. This is an undertaking that if there is any dispute regarding this site in future or if financial compensation has to be paid for the site, all this responsibility will be MMRDA's responsibility. Bhosale also said that this place will be handed over to MMRDA in the next three to four days after receiving this guarantee. Regarding getting possession of the place, when the Metropolitan Commissioner S.V.R. Srinivas was asked, he said that he would respond only after taking possession of the place. He has confirmed the news that a guarantee letter has been sought from the government.
What is the land dispute?
MMRDA has proposed a carshed for Metro 6 at Kanjurmarg. The then Fadnavis government had approved this car shed in 2016 itself. In 2020, the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray decided to build an integrated car shed for Metro 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) route along with Metro 4 (Wadala-Kasarvadavali) and Metro 14 (Badlapur to Kanjurmarg) route at the same place. Accordingly, Aarey carshed was shifted to Kanjur car shed. But BJP opposed shifting Aarey carshed to Kanjurmarg and a dispute started over the same. The dispute went to court and the integrated carshed project stalled.
A big controversy arose over the Kanjurmarg carshed. Aare Vachwa (Save Aarey) protesters raised the demand that Kanjurmarg itself should be a carshed. In 2022, while the court case was still going on, there was a transfer of power and the Shinde-Fadnavis government shifted the carshed of Metro 3 from Kanjurmarg back to Aarey. So the integrated car shed project got a shock. The work of Metro 3 carshed has started in Aarey. The place of Mogharpada has been fixed for Metro 4 carshed and now the construction will start here soon. Importantly, the court dispute between the Centre and the state government over the Kanjurmarg carshed has also been settled. That is why it has now been decided to give 15 hectares of land in Kanjurmarg for Metro 6 carshed. Now this has been opposed by the Thackeray group as well as the Aare Vachwa movement.
The position taken regarding Metro Carshed is only after checking the feasibility
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aditya Thackeray was expected to speak after studying the basics. But it is unfortunate that they are talking like idiots. The government has taken a stand regarding the 15 acre land of Kanjurmarg only after checking the feasibility. Therefore, the completion of Metro 3 will help other works and the daily loss of INR 5.5 crore will be covered, replied Mumbai BJP President MLA Adv. Ashish Shelar.
Newly incurred expenses in Aarey and Integrated will be saved at the discretion of the State Govt. It was the Thackeray government's stand that Metro 3, 6 and 10 should have a combined car shed. A committee was appointed for this purpose. According to the report of this committee, it is convenient to make the carshed of Metro III in Aarey itself. The cost of the carshed in Aarey would have been added to the water and the cost of constructing the carshed in Kanjurmarg would have to be separated. Where is the wisdom in this? Shelar also said.
Also Read: Mumbai Metro: SC Imposes INR 10 Lakh Fine For Seeking To Raze More Aarey Trees
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