Residents to approach state for underground Metro - Indian Express:10th Nov, 2010

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/residents-to-approach-state-for-underground-metro/709005/0

Express News Service

Posted: Wed Nov 10 2010, 06:06 hrs Mumbai:

The residents of Juhu, Khar and Bandra opposing the elevated Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro corridor had a heated meeting with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner and officials Tuesday afternoon, during which they urged the development body to contruct an underground Metro corridor instead of an elevated one.

Unable to find an immediate solution, both parties finally decided to approach the state government and demand underground corridors. The residents have teamed up to oppose the elevated Metro project being implemented by the MMRDA. Along with them, municipal councillor Khan Rahebar and BJP corporator Ashish Shelar also took part in the meeting.

President of Juhu Citizens Welfare Hansel D’Souza along with activists Darryl D’Monte, Shyama Kulkarni and Nitin Killawala gave a detailed presentation to metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad and other MMRDA officials.

The residents claimed that the cost of the Mumbai Metro project is much higher than the cost of Metro projects being planned in other cities like Hyderbad, Chennai and

Bangalore. “... then why can’t we have an underground Metro corridor by investing a few extra bucks,” said D’Souza. Reiterating the MMRDA’s stand in the issue, Gaikwad said, “The authority has accepted that underground is best suitable for the city. To complete nine such corridors, the MMRDA will have to shell out a whopping Rs 56,000 crore extra.”

The activists and MMRDA officials got into heated arguments and counter-arguements after Gaikwad said while infrastructure projects were being built, citizens have to bear the inconvenience.

“The JJ flyover is a classic example of how citizens have suffered problems during the construction. However, if people start cribbing about their privacy being compromised owing to projects such as Metro, their pleas may remain unheard,” Gaikwad said. This is followed by a war words between the two parties again.

Following this, Shelar concluded the meeting by saying the only concern for the government and the authority to opt for underground corridors is the cost factor. He said, “Let us work together and approach the state government demanding underground corridors.”