The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has claimed to have resolved the issue of project affected people (PAPs) of the Milan subway flyover.
All residential and commercial tenements, which were coming in the way of the proposed flyover, will be rehabilitated in the same area.
However, since the process of rehabilitation has taken a long time, the flyover may not be completed by the proposed deadline, May 2009.
MMRDA has already invited tenders for constructing temporary accommodation in Vile Parle (east). This transit camp will have 210 tenements of 160 sq feet each. “There are 220 residential and 72 commercial PAPs on either side of the railway track. We are shifting 210 PAPs. The tendering process should be completed by mid-November,” MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar told DNA.
One reason why the project was stuck after it began in January this year was that local residents did not want to stay in MMRDA rehabilitation colonies elsewhere in the city.
Parag Alawani, local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has welcomed the decision. “This is the best possible package that the locals can get. Unfortunately, we had to agitate to get this package. It is a first in MMRDA’s history that rehabilitation has been done in the same area.” Alawani told DNA.
“MMRDA is planning to construct a slum rehabilitation colony near the flyover. Partially affected PAPs will also be accommodated in the colony. Permanent accommodation for all PAPs will be made available near the Milan subway,” said Kawathkar.
s_ninad@dnaindia.net
