MMRDA, AAI swap land for metro car depot

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) now is merely a step away from acquiring land to construct a metro car depot for two metro corridors connecting Dahisar and Andheri. After two long years of negotiations with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), all decks have now been cleared for the depot.

The MMRDA and AAI are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday for transferring the land to MMRDA located at Dahisar, which presently hosts AAI’s high-frequency receiving station that enables uninterrupted communication for smooth movement of aircrafts. In exchange for the land at Dahisar, the MMRDA has offered an equivalent plot to AAI at Gorai for establishing its station. Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA said, “We are going to sign an MoU with the AAI on April 25. The AAI has finally agreed to shift its station to Gorai and the process will commence after signing of the MoU.” Mr Darade further added, “However, there are several encroachments on the land currently owned by AAI. The MMRDA has acquired only those parts of the land where there is no encroachment. The encroached land will remain to be AAI’s property. We will not take the encroached land as it results in litigation.”

The total area of the plot at Dahisar is 65 acres, of which MMRDA would acquire 16 acres for having a full—fledged car depot for Dahisar east — Andheri east Metro — 7 and Dahisar — DN Nagar Metro — 2B corridor.