Work on Metro Line-3 project to start in next financial year: MMRC

No displacement without public consultation, All permission, land acquisition in place

The work on the 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro line-3 corridor will commence from next financial year and there will be no shifting of project-affected families without proper rehabilitation and public consultation. The project entails an investment of Rs 23,000 crore.

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide allayed fears of wide-spread displacement of project affected families and project delay. She told reporters that MMRC is coordinating with other concerned organisations like Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development, Slum Rehabilitation Authority and Mumbai Port Trust to explore possibilities of temporary and permanent rehabilitation. “We will not shift anyone without proper rehabilitation and the entire process will be completed through public consultation,” she noted.

Bhide said the project is expected to be completed by 2020. “Most of the requisite permissions and in-principle approvals from related authorities are in hand for shifting different utilities and services. The land acquisition from the government is at an advanced stage. In view of all preparedness, we are confident of completing the project in the stipulated period.”

The project will require 39.09 Ha of land, out of which 27.29 Ha is only for temporary period. The project will require a total of 11.80 Ha of land on permanent basis, out of which 8.70 Ha belongs to the government and the remaining 3.20 Ha land is private, Bhide said.

“Team MMRC also has adequate experience of rehabilitation of project affected persons,” Bhide said.

The MMRC managing director also said 2,044 trees will be transplanted and the Corporation has identified the site for the purpose. MMRC has conducted elaborate environment and geological impact assessment studies, she said.