Residents stage protest against elevated Metro-2B

Mumbai: Residents from Khar, Santacruz, and Bandra on Friday formed a human chain to oppose the elevated Metro 2B line (DN Nagar to Mandale). The residents stressed that the elevated line will cause traffic congestion and demanded the corridor to be underground. Covering areas including Khar, Bandra and Santacruz along the S.V. road, hundreds of residents, students and professionals formed the human chain.

The residents from JVPD, Khar including several citizen organisations had approached the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to demand for an underground metro line, however the authorities remained firm on their stand. “If the elevated line comes up on S.V. Road, the roads will be clogged with traffic. The road width is narrow, with metro pillars coming up in the centre traffic will become more worse,” said Anandini Thakur from Khar Residents Association.

The MMRDA has already begun barricading and soil testing at various parts of Bandra for the 23.5 km-long elevated corridor.

“We have received notices from MMRDA to push back the boundary of properties, we will lose part of our land for this project which is not even feasible,” said another resident. Among the institutions which will be affected by the Metro 2B project include Sacred Hearts School in Khar,  Mithibai College, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Podar International School etc.

The residents had approached the Bombay high court to further press their demand for an underground metro line. in western suburbs. The court has stayed the ban on metro work citing that the authority to yet to receive the final nod from fire brigade.

The opposing residents claimed to have submitted an IIT report on feasibility of an underground metro corridor along the route which was accepted by the MMRDA in 2014.