The Metro 3 project, which will be constructed by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), has some hurdles in front before it can even complete Metro 3. The Metro 3 project will have to fight against various court cases filed by residents and activists in Mumbai. The most controversial project Metro 3, referred also as Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro, has been in state government’s pipeline for many years. But in 2016 finally the project has started. The city’s first underground metro corridor that would connect Colaba with SEEPZ via Bandra will have trains with eight coaches and not six because the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has estimated a surge in the number of passengers if the project is completed by 2020.
The MMRC has already faced a lot of heat by the residents of Girgaum, Kalbadevi, and, Grant Road for their relocation. And activists and local residents are already in fight for saving trees in Aarey colony. But the nightmare for MMRC doesn’t end here, MMRC will also have to face two major cases in the Bombay High Court. One of the two petitions is filed by Pervin Jehangir, a senior citizen from Cuffe Parade and the second petition is filed by senior citizen Nina Verma.
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As reported by Indian Express, Pervin Jehangir has filed petition on the grounds that the MMRC has not followed the due procedure mandated by the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 in land acquisition. During the argument of the petition, petitioner’s lawyer argued how the metro construction will be in violation of the government’s CRZ notification of 2011. The corporation did not get the requisite environmental clearances prior to beginning the project, and that a false declaration was given to the tree authority by the MMRC.
The other petition which is filled by Nina Verma, pertains to trees that will cut during the construction of 33.5 km long Metro 3. This petition asks the court to look into the matter which will affect the greenery and tree shedding across the city. In the last hearing on February 9, the HC ordered a stay on all tree cutting until further orders. And asked to a form a committee which will look into ways of saving trees during the construction Metro 3.
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In the meanwhile, Nicholas Almeida, resident of Marol and trustee of NGO Watchdog Foundation, has filed a criminal complaint against Ashwini Bhide, MD, MMRC and SN Subrahmanyan, Deputy MD, L&T Ltd. The criminal complaint allegedly say that the construction of Metro was being carried out after 10 pm also, creating public nuisance and noise pollution. The next hearing is on February 21 at the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Andheri.
The various stay orders and the time limitations have slowed down the construction of Metro 3, which MMRC had planned to complete 20 per cent of the its civil work by the end of 2017. MMRC is confident that they will win the legal battle, if they lose this battle, the city will end up losing the metro.
