Citizen activists demanding an underground metro line between Charkop and Mankhurd had a heated first round of discussion with top officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday.

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After an intense argument, they decided to approach the state government with the MMRDA, and demand an underground metro instead of an elevated one.

Activists from 21 different citizen organisations, who have formed a movement for an underground metro, on Tuesday met MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad and other top officials involved in the metro project.

The activists — who had earlier protested against the elevated 32km line from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra — had a heated round of discussions with Gaikwad and his colleagues.

Hansel D’Souza, president of the Juhu Citizens’ Welfare Group, said during his presentation, “The cost factor suggests that compared to cities like Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Mumbai will be getting the metro at a very high cost. Why can’t we pay a little extra and have an underground metro instead.”

During the discussion, Gaikwad said that even the MMRDA had accepted the fact that an underground metro will suit the city better. “However, it will come at an additional cost of Rs56,000 crore for the nine corridors,” said Gaikwad.

He added that during the construction of infrastructure projects, citizens have to bear with some difficulties. “If people start cribbing about the loss of their privacy, their pleas may remain unheard,” said Gaikwad.

Bandra (West) municipal councillor Khan Rahebar demanded in-situ rehabilitation for the slum-dwellers of Shastri Nagar and slaughter house, through which the metro will be passing, and Gaikwad assured him that the matter will be resolved separately after discussions.