Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), after giving up prime land parcel in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) for the underground terminal of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, is set to demand around Rs 3,500 crore from the Central Government, according to MMRDA officials.
After a long standoff between the MMRDA and the Central Government over the issue of giving away BKC land for bullet train terminal, Fadnavis, in the presence of Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, had handed over the land documents to the Railways last month.
A senior MMRDA official said, "We have decided to demand around Rs 1,240 crore for 0.9 hectares on ground area and around Rs 2,273 crore for 3.3 hectares underground area for bullet train terminal in BKC. This brings the total demand we will be seeking from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to Rs 3,500 crore."
Earlier, both the MMRDA and the state government were reluctant to give up land for the underground bullet train terminal, citing that an International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) building was to come up on the same plot.
The MMRDA had also cited that the land in BKC was of commercial value and hence it wanted to monetise it in the open market for funding 10 proposed Metro corridors in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the estimated cost of which came around Rs 82,000 crore.
However, it was later decided that both the IFSC and the bullet train terminal be accommodated on the same plot. Subsequently, the land documents were handed over to the Railways in February 2018, ending a two-year-long standoff.
"The demand estimation figure of around Rs 3,500 crore was approved by Fadnavis who is also the chairman of MMRDA on Thursday, and now the estimated figure will be formally sent to the Centre," the MMRDA official added.
The Terminal
- After a long stand-off with the Centre, the MMRDA gave up a parcel of land in Bandra-Kurla Complex for the underground terminal of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train last month
