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.”

Mumbai citizens approach govt for underground metro - DNA: 10th Nov, 2010

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mumbai-citizens-approach-govt-for-underground-metro_1464532 By Ninad Siddhaye | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Citizen activists demanding an underground metro line between Charkop and Mankhurd had a heated first round of discussion with top officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday. After an intense argument, they decided to approach the state government with the MMRDA, and demand an underground metro instead of an elevated one. Activists from 21 different citizen organisations, who have formed a movement for an underground metro, on Tuesday met MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad and other top officials involved in the metro project. The activists — who had earlier protested against the elevated 32km line from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra — had a heated round of discussions with Gaikwad and his colleagues. Hansel D’Souza, president of the Juhu Citizens’ Welfare Group, said during his presentation, “The cost factor suggests that compared to cities like Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Mumbai will be getting the metro at a very high cost. Why can’t we pay a little extra and have an underground metro instead.” During the discussion, Gaikwad said that even the MMRDA had accepted the fact that an underground metro will suit the city better. “However, it will come at an additional cost of Rs56,000 crore for the nine corridors,” said Gaikwad. He added that during the construction of infrastructure projects, citizens have to bear with some difficulties. “If people start cribbing about the loss of their privacy, their pleas may remain unheard,” said Gaikwad. Bandra (West) municipal councillor Khan Rahebar demanded in-situ rehabilitation for the slum-dwellers of Shastri Nagar and slaughter house, through which the metro will be passing, and Gaikwad assured him that the matter will be resolved separately after discussions.

Underground Metro ideal, but not feasible: MMRDA - Hindustan Times: 10th Nov, 2010

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/mumbai/Underground-Metro-ideal-but-not-feasible-MMRDA/Article1-624249.aspx

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, November 10, 2010

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has made its stand on the underground metro clear. Metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said it was an ideal solution, but not economically feasible for Mumbai. Nearly 21 citizens groups from JVPD and Bandra had a meeting with top officials of the MMRDA on Tuesday to put across their demand for an underground Metro. Gaikwad said the decision is now entirely on the state government.

Hansel D'Souza, president of Juhu Citizens Welfare Group, made a detailed presentation explaining why the citizens were against the elevated metro. “Compared to Chennai, Bengalooru, and Hyderabad, our city is getting the metro at a very high cost. Then why can't we have an underground metro by paying a little more?” questioned D'Souza.

“The underground railway will come at an extra cost of Rs 56,000 crore,” Gaikwad explained to the group.

The MMRDA is presently building nine Metro corridors estimated to cost around Rs 47,000 crore. However, this figure is likely to increase since the estimates are not based on the current market scenario.

While addressing the citizens' grievances, Gaikwad said: “The JJ flyover is an example of how citizens have suffered during the construction period. However, if people start cribbing about their privacy being lost due to projects such as the Metro, their pleas may remain unheard.”

BJP corporator Ashish Shelar, who was also present, suggested the citizens groups and MMRDA approach the state together to demand an underground line.

Underground metro a must, insist citizens - Times of India - 10th Nov, 2010

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Underground-metro-a-must-insist-citizens/articleshow/6898885.cmsLinah Baliga & Ashley D'Mello , TNN, Nov 10, 2010,

MUMBAI: Citizens' groups from the western suburbs will make a last ditch effort for an underground metro by approaching the state government to mobilize funds for the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd ine. 

This decision was made by a group called 'Movement for An Underground Metro' , which comprised 21 organizations from Bandra to Ghatkopar, after a stormy session with metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad, on Tuesday at the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) office in Bandra.

Citizens made a presentation by drawing a comparison of metro rail cost of other cities such as Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad . Hansel D'Souza , president of Juhu Citizens' Welfare Group, said citizens would end up paying three times more than any other city in the country for the elevated metro rail.

"We will pay for an underground metro but, instead, get an elevated metro rail. In Mumbai, we are paying Rs 354 crore per km. If we compare the cost with that of Hyderabad, it is Rs 171 crore per km, for Bangalore, it is Rs 80 crore per km and for Chennai, Rs 100 crore per km for an elevated metro rail. We have got this figure from the Reliance Infra website from their media release," he said.

Daryl D'Monte , Shyama Kulkarni, Sherley Singh, Nitin Killawala and Kunickaa Lal were also a part of the discussion with corporators Ashish Shelar and Rehbar Khan.

"Feasibility in terms of money is an issue which can be resolved. If one prioritizes on decongesting Mumbai, elevated metro is not the answer . On the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor, MMRDA has made mistakes. They should learn from the mistakes and even project-affected people should be rehabilitated phase-wise ," said Kunickaa Lal of Andheri-Versova Residents' Welfare Association.

The discussion took a heated turn when Gaikwad said, "Juhu residents are only interested in their privacy. They are not concerned about the poor. According to the railways report, roughly 10 people die everyday on suburban railway tracks."

Shelar intervened and a decision was arrived at, when he said, "I will initiate dialogue between the citizens and the state government to tackle the financial feasibility for the underground Metro-II line. We need a reply from the MMRDA commissioner in the form of an affidavit to the PIL filed by residents in the Bombay high court that an underground metro is an ideal solution for the suburbs. We do not want any more land acquisitions from citizens or any 'dishousing' of buildings for this project . Also, ensure that if there is a more viability gap funding , the remedy shouldn't be in the form of levying extra taxes to citizens." He also said that since MMRDA needs an extra Rs 56,000 crore for all the nine corridors, MMRDA should make two on a priority basis to lessen the burden of economics.