Metro 4 corridor must go underground: Locals

Mumbai: Citizens of Thane and Mulund have objected to an elevated Metro 4 (Wadala-Ghatkopar-Kasarvadavli) and stated that it should go underground as the lives of at least a thousand trees are at stake here. They have also stated that the public consultation for the project had been conducted in a restricted manner.

While the detailed report of the project stated that 457 trees would be removed across the 32-kilometre stretch, the public notices published for Thane revealed that 1,021 trees would be affected in the region. “Only for 12 km from Mulund Check Naka to Manpada, 1,021 trees are getting affected. The information on the loss of tree cover in Mumbai region due to the project has still not been revealed,” said Rohit Joshi, a Thane-based tree activist.

Although Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials have claimed that most of the trees will be transplanted, activists highlighted that the procedure has turned out be unfruitful in other projects.

According to information received under the RTI, not all Thane citizens, but only 260 project-affected people have been consulted without any Social Impact Assessment considering potential resettlement impacts, baseline socio-economic study. “The objective stated in the DPR is only to complete the Project on Reduction and Speedy Implementation. It seems only these two factors are to be prioritised and all other aspects related to holistic planning including the cost of land acquisition, adverse effects on environment, connectivity and other traffic-related issues and loss of privacy have been completely ignored,” said Hema Ramani, an environment lawyer.