“Apathy by Centre, State stalling work on Mumbai
Metro”
(Response
to Report in Hindustan Times dtd. 7th May 2012)
It
is not true as if the Centre is deliberately stalling the Mumbai Metro
Project. The main reason is the
functioning of MMRDA and the ill conceived strategy they deploy with the
project as well as non existent
political will of successive Chief Ministers.
They
always knew that it would be absurd to propose a structure in the thick of mangroves
and creeks of the magnitude of a ‘Metro Rail yard’ which spreads over 20 to 35
Acres. However the officials casually
went ahead with the proposal presuming that
the MOEF would approve it, if the said yard is constructed on stilts !
Strangely Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) also recommended such
nonsensical plan. However, one need not be an environment expert to rubbish
this thought.
The
same senior planners of MMRDA had also proposed equally absurd Underground
Metroyard under the 25 Acre Mahalaxmi Race Course for Metroline 3.
I
sincerely believe that these so called planners and senior bureaucrats should
be dealt with legal action for making mockery of an important MRT project, thus
depriving the exchequer of reducing the chaotic Public Transport System. It is observed, since about last ten years that
MMRDA is more enthusiastic about signing of Contracts rather than implementing
the same.
Notwithstanding
above, which environment issue compels MMRDA not to complete a meager 12 km. Metro line 1 ???
Nitin Killawala : Architect
_________________________________________________________________________________
Article
The indifference by the state and centre towards the long-awaited Metro,
which is still awaiting land and clearances to construct the
Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd line, is now forcing the Mumbai Metropolitan
Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to look for alternatives.
After the Centre
repeatedly stalled the relaxation of environmental and CRZ laws
for the construction of metro train depots at Charkop and Mankhurd, and
the unwillingness of the state government to hand over any alternate
land in the vicinity, the MMRDA is now contemplating setting up the car
depot at Goregaon.
“We are thinking about setting up the car depot at Goregaon near
Pahadi village. We will request the state government to help us acquire
the land,” a senior MMRDA official said.
The area in Pahadi is close to the Aarey Milk colony, but is privately owned. The MMRDA is planning to ask the state government for help in acquiring this 90-acre piece of land.
The first metro line as per MMRDA’s initial plans should have been functional by 2011. However, frequent delays meant that a concession agreement with Reliance Infrastructure was signed only in January 2010. Work was to begin in January 2011 but was stalled as the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the MoEF had only cleared the metro line alone without any car depot claiming that it was not permissible under the CRZ notification of 1991.
After much cajoling, the committee, in September 2010, gave conditional clearance to the car depots saying they could be built with a covering shed and no washing or maintenance of rakes could be carried out.
MMRDA officials and Reliance said the clause of not allowing any washing or maintenance of rakes defeats the purpose of a depot. Officials need the land to park the metro rakes and to carry out maintenance work.
The Centre, however, has been unwilling to accommodate these considerations.
The troubled MMRDA has subsequently made requests to the state government for handing over of alternative land in the vicinity.
The state government has, however, still not taken any decision in this regard.
MMRDA officials said this approach would ensure the Metro got delayed for a long time. “This treatment of Mumbai is unacceptable. The state and Centre need to realise that they are stalling a move which will help lakhs of Mumbaiites who travel in abject conditions,” the official said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Apathy-by-Centre-state-stalling-work-on-Mumbai-Metro/Article1-851872.aspx
The area in Pahadi is close to the Aarey Milk colony, but is privately owned. The MMRDA is planning to ask the state government for help in acquiring this 90-acre piece of land.
The first metro line as per MMRDA’s initial plans should have been functional by 2011. However, frequent delays meant that a concession agreement with Reliance Infrastructure was signed only in January 2010. Work was to begin in January 2011 but was stalled as the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the MoEF had only cleared the metro line alone without any car depot claiming that it was not permissible under the CRZ notification of 1991.
After much cajoling, the committee, in September 2010, gave conditional clearance to the car depots saying they could be built with a covering shed and no washing or maintenance of rakes could be carried out.
MMRDA officials and Reliance said the clause of not allowing any washing or maintenance of rakes defeats the purpose of a depot. Officials need the land to park the metro rakes and to carry out maintenance work.
The Centre, however, has been unwilling to accommodate these considerations.
The troubled MMRDA has subsequently made requests to the state government for handing over of alternative land in the vicinity.
The state government has, however, still not taken any decision in this regard.
MMRDA officials said this approach would ensure the Metro got delayed for a long time. “This treatment of Mumbai is unacceptable. The state and Centre need to realise that they are stalling a move which will help lakhs of Mumbaiites who travel in abject conditions,” the official said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Apathy-by-Centre-state-stalling-work-on-Mumbai-Metro/Article1-851872.aspx
