HT: Movement Against Metro: 1-10-10

The title "The Movement Against Metro" is misleading- It should read "Movement for Under Ground Metro" 

As reported "The Movement will bring together all people affected by the elevated Metro-----------" Actually everyone who wants to live in Mumbai will be affected, because all our arterial roads will be ruthlessly choked.

We the Suburbanites- both Eastern and Western, are profusely Begging for Under Ground Metro, So that we shall have wider and safer roads, better footpaths, more buses, more trees, opportunities for cycling tracks and much needed Integrated Public Transport System.

All the locations for Under Ground Metro shall open up a golden opportunity to revamp under utilized maidans, bus depots, parking lots as well as revitalizing SRA Schemes and other encroachments.

As reported in the article Mr. Gaikwad has now brought out an additional cost of Rs.56,000 crores for Under Ground Metro which is totally out of context as far as Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route is concerned.

Simple Calculation:               32 Km  @ Rs.  500  Cr  =.           Rs 16000 Crores (for Under Ground Metro)

 Less: RelianceInfra's    Commitment for CBM Route  =            Rs 11000 Crores ( (for Elevated Metro)

                                             __________________________________________________________________________________

                                              Difference in Cost         =                  Rs   5000 Crores

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Now it is a matter of obvious  equation for all of us in the Suburbs to decide, whether to flout Rs. 11000 Crores and destroy the city or invest an addtional Rs. 5000 Crores which shall be blessed by many generations of Mumbaikars to follow!   

Sherley Singh

Save Our Suburbs

Urban Issues: Point - Nitin Killawala, CounterPoint - Ashwini Bhide, Joint Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA

Facts on the new completion date of “Aug 2011” for the VAG route

The Facts on the new completion date of “Aug 2011” for the VAG route

• Of the 12 stations only 3 have reached slab level
• Of the 450 pillars for the track only 247 are ready today
•  No clarity on the design yet, on the bridge over the railway
• Over 3KMS of the VAG route, MMRDA- Reliance have no access too yet
• Of the stations that have reached the slab level, the fire dept have refused an NOC…

There is no way this quantum of work can be completed in the next 11 months.

Is this another common wealth like situation? this is not about Juhu or pushing for the underground but a reality check!!

Kind regards

Sherley J Singh

Jagdeep DESAI Reply: Higher FSI to redevelop metro area, says MMRDA

Hello all,

One more classic bit of nonsense by MMRDA is in The Times of India, 2010 SEP 24, credited to an unnamed official in MMRDA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Higher-FSI-to-redevelop-metro-area-says-MMRDA-/articleshow/6616525.cms

"Our idea is to allow redevelopment on the lines of cities abroad. It will pave the way for residential areas so that people do not have to commute long distances to work,'' said an MMRDA official.

First of all which cities abroad has this, is the question.

Next, if MMRDA is in the business of redevelopment of residential areas, with the noble objective of reducing the commuting distance, then why make life hell for existing residents, citizens, by disrupting and ruining their daily lives for five and more years while the endless work on over head metro goes on and on, and on and on, and on and on.

Let MMRDA simply offer 4 FAR / FSI straightaway to all of the suburbs,  with the condition to residents and business establishments, no commuting long distances, stay and work in the specified area, so no commuting long distances.

Just to make sure, no commuting long distances.

The other classic scenario that is going to happen is the rehabilitation and relocation of the projects affected persons from the Charkop car shed area to Mankhurd, the other end of the Charkop Mankhurd line.

Those people, disrupred from their homes,  will be using the metro, as and when complete, to go up and down to their place of work and stay, kilometres and kilometres away.

Meaning, till the metro car shed came up, they were staying and working in Charkop area, after that, they are forcibly shifted to Mankhurd, but will have to do the long commute back to Charkop.

So the metro will be made specially for them.

What say MMRDA.

Instead of decongesting, with 4 FAR / FSI, MMRDA is recongesting.

No wonder the wish to remain unnamed.

Jagdeep DESAI

Architect

Secretary

Founder Trustee

Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

Nitin Killawala Reply : ‘Metro, monorail in Mumbai will boost real estate’

Media Report:  DNA - 24h Sept, 2010

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-monorail-in-mumbai-will-boost-real-estate_1442282

Reply to Media

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Once again MMRDA’s Media hype. It should be every Mumbaikars’ concern that a responsible planning authority is turning into mediocre Real Estate Agent.

Prices of property cannot increase when the metrorail is elevated. It may be true if the same Metro goes Underground, because an additional transport system is created and other mode of Public Transport will have opportunity to improve.

If that is the logic, then why there is a huge difference in value of properties between Santacruz Station and Linking Road, Bandra Station and Hill Road, Dadar station and Shivaji Park or Grant Road and Peddar Road ? (Metro is like a toilet, in the house, it’s a necessity but no one wants to expose it!) 

MMRDA’s statement “Mumbai Transformation Support Unit has come up with a suggestion to give higher FSI around the area of the upcoming Metro Station”. This is the most dangerous statement by our planning Authority.

Just imagine, increase in FSI around all our suburban stations. (In fact that was one of the reason to resist using TDR on both sides of Railway tracks).

Elevated Metro Stations are worse than the existing Railway Stations because they are forcibly built in the middle of our roads with no open space. Here all properties are over developed along the alignment. Showing such fraudulent hope of increase in FSI is  like putting fuel in the fire.

MMRDA is systematically playing with the sentiments of innocent citizens in the name of the development. The hidden truth is they are all set to destroy and sale our city.

--
Nitin Killawala.

My Mumbai City: Protest Rally against the Mumbai Metro

http://mymumbaicity.com/index.php/2010/09/21/protest-rally-against-the-mumbai-metro/

Mumbai has been trying its level best to offer the city with the best of efforts to make it the all new Shanghai, however with rallies and protests marching on against the development of the new Mumbai Metro project, there is a lot to worry about. Residents of the Juhu and Bandra locality have been protesting their hearts out against the new Mumbai Metro Rail Project which is fast becoming one of the most challenging aspects for officials to handle. Titled as a ‘Peace Rally’, residents have been protesting against the new Mumbai Metro rail section which is said to spread from Andheri to Bandra. The proposed layout states the Metro to be overhead, however with voices crying to make the system an underground operation, it is done with the intention of saving homes and commercial houses being saved from being demolished.

The protest that started off at Linking Road, Bandra carried on to the Juhu Garden where slum dewellers walked along with Pali Hill residents to be a part of the same brigade. Corporator, Ashish Shelar was one of the many recognizable faces that also lent a helping hand. BJP Leader Gopinath Munde too has proven to be quite supportive and news has spread around claiming him to take up the matter at Parliament. Till date, citizens have vowed to keep building pressure on the Mumbai Metro authorities and the government till their demands are met or taken up with prime notice. A core committee is also been said to have been formed so as to listen to the plight of those that will suffer if the Mumbai Metro was to be build overhead.

Andheri – Versova- Ghatkopar Route under construction

Awaiting metro rail bridge over Andheri fly over. Two monstrous columns going above 80 feet are under construction to support this bridge is under construction for last ten months

Andheri – Versova- Ghatkopar Route under construction snaps prove that the project cannot be completed before 2018