A latest twist has been presented in the much-talked Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro car depot at Aarey Milk Colony. A private developer has thrown in the towel showing interest in housing the car depot inside the residential complex.
The developer, Royal Palms, is on the periphery of Aarey Milk Colony and has proposed opening up of his residential plots for the depot so that the metro can chug right inside the Royal Palms complex. This proposal is being supported by the pro-environment petitioner NGO – Vanashakti – fighting to Save Aarey.
The letter written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) by Royal Palms Managing Director Muhamed Nensey, mentions its willingness to share its own land upto 30 to 60 acres to house the car depot in lieu of MMRDA's scheme.
As per MMRDA's policy, wherever possible it gives out additional Floor Space Index as compensation in lieu of the land it acquires. Even for car depot at Versova for Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar project, extra FSI was given to the developer to acquire the plot for metro depot.
The letter by the developer dated August 2015 reads: "Our land is free of trees and hence if utilised the damage to environment would be minimum." In order to take the metro inside this private land, the implementing agency will have to extend the metro line by a kilometre.
The NGO Vanashakti had suggested and batted for this option in October last year, stating "it appears that the land owner is not seeking any monetary compensation for the land and that it does not have any trees on it. Since we are keen to protect Aarey Colony…if found suitable and legal, the site may be considered as an added option suggested by us." (sic)
The petition on car depot at Aarey Milk Colony with the National Green Tribunal is scheduled for hearing on Wednesday (today). Ever since the car depot has been proposed at the green lung of Aarey Milk Colony, there have been opposition. This has resulted in delay in implementing the project as well as cost escalation of 33.5-km long underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro line.
