Kanjurmarg car shed will baloon costs: Plot owner

Mumbai: Setting up a car shed in Kanjurmarg for metro line 3 will cost an additional Rs 1,700 crore, the owner of a portion of the plot in Kanjurmarg where the structure could be built said in the court on Monday.

The counsel appearing for Suresh Bafna, who owns a portion of the plot, stated that a metro car shed in Kanjurmarg is technically not feasible.

Mr Bafna’s counsel also stated the MMRC had said that an additional cost of Rs 1,700 crore would be incurred for an extended line of 7.5 kilometre from Seepz to Kanjurmarg if the car shed is built there. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has earlier stated that the plot in Kanjurmarg is a disputed land. However, a document from the Mumbai district collector (of which The Asian Age has a copy) shows 41 hectare of land in Kanjurmarg proposed for the car shed is free from any legal dispute.

Environmentalists have contended that an integrated car shed for metro line 6, already being proposed at the site and metro line 3 would save the cost for an entire metro car shed. Moreover, the cost of excavation and tree felling, replanting and maintenance will also be saved, they said.

 “In 2015, the MMRDA chief headed the six-member panel where Kanjurmarg was unanimously deemed as the best location for metro car shed. How can they turn around and say that now it is technically not feasible?” said Ruchir Bansal, a tree activist.

Car shed for the 14.5 kilometre metro 6 corridor, Swami Samarth Nagar-Jogeshwari-Kanjurmarg-Vikhroli line, has also been proposed in Kanjurmarg. Activists have suggested the metro 3 depot can also be constructed on the same land while integrating a depot for metro 6. “This will save the cost of a metro station in Aarey, tree felling, tree transplantation, replantation, maintenance,” said Priya Mishra, member of Aarey Conservation Group.  

The MMRC has sought a week’s time to file its reply to the Bombay high court.