Even when Shiv Sena and various non-government organizations plan to step up opposition for the proposed car depot in Aarey Colony for the Colaba—Bandra—SEEPZ Metro 3 rail corridor, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has resorted to a media blitzkrieg saying that it is outside the eco sensitive zone around the Sanjay Gandhi National Park notified in December 2016 and most of the activities are open to sky. Besides, the land is neither a forest nor a tribal land as per the government land records, says MMRC.
MMRC further stated that the depot will have 35 stabling lines for night parking of trains, operation control system, administrative building and inspection and maintenance workshop. MMRC also said that no real estate development will be carried out in the car depot which will be spread over 25 hectare of the total area of 1,287 hectare of the Aarey Colony. A total of 30 hectare was handed over by the state government to MMRC for the car depot, of which 5 hectare of green cover is retained at the proposed site.
MMRC’s move to release advertisements in print media coincides with Shiv Sena’s call to go in for tree plantation at the proposed car depot site.
MMRC said the car depot site has been selected on technical grounds after thoroughly examining all other alternatives. Moreover, MMRC said that there are no restraining orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the car depot. Instead, the NGT has permitted temporary work in the adjoining 3 hectare area. The contractor appointed by MMRC has undertaken shifting of water pipelines, storm water drains which fall under civic amenities permitted in no development zone.
MMRC also strongly justified the requirement of a car depot for smooth operation of any metro system with an appeal to Mumbaikars to extend their cooperation. According to MMRC, the activities undertaken at Aarey are legally permitted and are aimed at providing comfortable, safe and eco-friendly public transport to the city. Incidentally, the car depot plot is surrounded by the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, Marol Maroshi road and Goregaon Powai Link Road with substantial vehicular traffic.
