The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) plans to go ahead with the construction of the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro railway line even if it fails to get right of way (ROW) for the Subhash Nagar station near Asalpha.
The authority has also not ruled out an underground Metro on the second Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd line. "There is only one right of way issue at the Maheshwar mandir (at the proposed Subhash Nagar station),"said MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
He added that they may have to demolish a small hall in the temple but would not touch the deity. The MMRDA has taken "paper possession" of the land but the issue has been taken to the high court, he added.
"We are trying to resolve the issue," said Asthana, adding that in a "worst case scenario," if the grant of the ROW was delayed, the construction of the Metro line would be done bypassing the station.
"It cannot be denied," said Asthana, when asked about whether the alignment of the second arm of the Metro railway from Charkop to Bandra and Mankhurd would be underground as against the present elevated corridor, which is being opposed by local residents.
He added that they were awaiting an environmental clearance for the car depots at Charkop and Mankhurd, and pointed out that in a recent meeting of the MMRDA, members had demanded that the alignment be underground. However, Asthana said that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had pointed out that the depot issue had to be sorted out first.
"An elevated corridor has its critics and not without reason," admitted Asthana. "As far as possible, we will go elevated. Where it is not possible, we will go underground," said Asthana, adding that the third 37.5 kilometre Colaba-BKC-SEEPZ line was planned to be underground.
"Right now, it is elevated," said Asthana, while speaking about the second Metro line and added that they had looked at a combination of an elevated and underground alignment, but it was not possible due to a large land requirement for ramps and slip roads.
