Posted On Friday, October 29, 2010 at 05:21:11 PM
Shyama Kulkarni writes on why the underground metro will make more sense than the elevated model Almost 20 NGOs across Mumbai, especially from the suburbs, have been protesting against an elevated metro and demanding an underground metro. Let us make it very clear to the authorities and to fellow Mumbaikars that we are not against development. We do want a metro BUT we want it to go underground.  It all began in December, 2008, when letters went to the MMRDA commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad. After a few meetings which yielded no results, we were asked to make presentations before the Urban Development Principal Secretary, TC Benjamin. In spite of these initial protests, work on Phase I began and continues at a snail’s pace.So, on September 19, 2010, citizens decided to take to the streets. Almost 5,000 Mumbaikars had a peaceful rally in Juhu, Santacruz, Khar and Bandra and spoke in one voice demanding an underground metro. This was followed by a protest march on October 18, 2010, from Bandra Talao to the MMRDA office where a memorandum was handed over. As we go to print, more than five PILs which have been filed are coming up for hearing. But what are we asking for and why? MMRDA insists on an elevated metro. We feel it will only increase road congestion and traffic anarchy. It will take away our pavements, our open spaces to build elevated stations (which will be put to commercial use) and add to air and noise pollution. MMRDA insists an underground metro is three times costlier.We feel that investments and cost benefits must be understood in the larger interests of the next few generations. This is long term planning where funds must be made available before projects begin. Besides, the financial contribution from the suburbs far exceeds that from the island city. MMRDA is planning an underground metro for the island city as it is more densely populated. We know that two-thirds of the population of Greater Mumbai lives in the suburbs. OUR STUDY SHOWS a) An underground metro takes probably less time. Thanks to the latest tunneling technology, doing away with complex land acquisition and no frequent stoppage due to litigations. b) The elevated metro has no expansion potential; it has only a linear North-South plan. Underground, the metro can expand in multiple directions. c) Underground metro will enable better road planning to not only increase traffic dispersal speed but more importantly, an efficient Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) along with safe walking and cycling would be possible. WE BELIEVE THAT i) Study with experts and citizen participation are mandatory before taking such vital decisions. ii) A modern underground metro will significantly contribute towards making the high density suburbs an integral part of an advanced global city of the future. When Mumbai’s contribution is maximum to the National Exchequer, why can’t we have an underground metro like Delhi or Kolkata? To sum up the IIT Report says it all. “If the government is really caring for the public and wants to solve the future problems for mass transport, they must go for the underground metro for the whole length. Economic viability and bankability of the underground metro is far more superior than the elevated metro. The underground metro will contribute positively to the quality of life in the city for several generations.”(Shyama Kulkarni is the trustee of the NGO AGNI) This is a first in a new series by guest columnists writing especially for The Times of South Mumbai. Sources: The Times of South Mumbai |
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