Even as news of the proposed car shed site for Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro Line III vacated spread, there is still no reasons for those fighting against the it inside Aarey Milk Colony to rejoice, as it turns out that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) foreclosed the contract and moved out the equipment to develop a car depot site.
"We are informing the people and even our groups, fighting to save Aarey from mindless construction, not to believe or be misled by seeing the contractors move out. It should not be seen as they have decided to leave but we believe that our fight will continue ahead," shared Stalin D, director project for NGO Vanashakti, which had filed petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) demanding that Aarey Milk Colony be declared a No Development Zone.
According to locals everything kept at the site, including the equipment, porta-cabin offices and even security staff was removed baring one person.
Meanwhile, Stalin informed that they are not going to sit quietly even as MMRC and MMRDA were pushing for Aarey Milk Colony as the ideal site for the car shed. "We are planning show of solidarity for the forests of Mumbai and its on a planning stage and will take another three weeks and apart from that the support from several NGO's and group's wanting to save these last remaining green lungs of Mumbai is only growing," he said.
On the other hand, the MMRC officials are preparing themselves to come out with a fresh tender to commence work in the same area of Aarey Milk Colony as new design and smaller plot size is being finalised to have car depot for the 33.5-km long underground metro line.
"The contractor approached us for foreclosure of the contractor as the scope of work has changed now. It does not makes any sense to continue with the same contract. With the formalities for the foreclosure now done, the equipments or materials of the private firm has been moved out from the land," said an MMRC official.
In July 2014, the MMRC had floated bids worth Rs129.32 crore, with an aim of completing works in the range of 18 to 24 months. Contractor RK Madhani had bagged the work order for the "civil and other development work at the car depot site".
The first work was construction of boundary retaining wall, storm water drain, ground development at an estimated cost of Rs109.80 crore. The second work was construction of three storied Playback Training Room building at an estimated cost of Rs7.88 crore. While the last work involved diversion of 1200 mm and 600 mm diameter water supply lines at the car depot plot at a price of Rs11.64 crore.
The Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro line will comprise of 27 stations; out of which 26 will be underground and one at grade (Aarey). The entire line is scheduled for completion by 2019.
