Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) Managing Director (MD) Ashwini Bhide who is also an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer has been transferred and Ranjit Deol will be taking over her place. Ranjit Deol was former Vice Chairman and MD of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
As the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress led government Maha Vikas Aghadi came to power, there were speculation that Ashwini Bhide may get a transfer order. The reason for this speculation, stemmed from the fact that at time of Aarey controversy, Ashwini and the Shiv Sena were at the opposing ends.
For the Metro 3 car-shed construction approximately 1,700 trees were cut in the Aarey region. Ashwini Bhide had voiced that it was a necessary step and pro-development. While Aaditya Thackeray and some of the other Shiv Sena members stood along with the green activists and opined that cutting of trees was not a right move. At that time, Aadtiya Thackeray had also made a statement demanding Ashwini Bhide's resignation.
Maharashtra Government is now reshuffling bureaucrats, Ashwini Bhide's transfer order came into action on Tuesday, January 21.
Also Read: Aarey Isn’t Just About Trees: Aditya Thackeray At HUII 2020
According to Aarey activist Zoru Bathena,
The Government has so many projects going on all over the place, with so many different people heading the project, but none as fiery as her. We must, in fact, thank her for making citizens understand the value of forests and trees. It was her insolence that fuelled the fire to Save Aarey and made ordinary Mumbaikars step out of their homes to save trees. Damage has been done to Aarey, but the positive repercussions of her acts will surely help save many a future forest.
We welcome Ashwini Bhide's removal as head of Mumbai Metro. An officer who lies on oath spreads deliberate misinformation, runs smear campaigns and is hell-bent on the destruction of Mumbai's ecology(Aarey!).
Also Read: BMC To Cut Trees In Bandra. Invites Public Suggestions By January 23
With Ashwini Bhide gone how will the Mumbai Metro projects progress is something that remains to be seen.
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