Fearing Mumbai metro construction will affect ancient fire temples, Parsis to move HC

Members of Parsi community are mulling to move the High Court demanding the realignment of Mumbai's Metro III project fearing damage to their religious shrines.

Several Parsis also staged protest outside their Fire Temple Bhika Behram well near Churchgate station here to draw government's attention towards their plight.

The construction of the Metro III line in South Mumbai has become a matter of concern for the community as one of its underground tunnels is going to pass under Jagannath Sunkersett Road, on which two fire temples- Wadiaji Atash Behram and Anjuman Atash Behram, are located.

The two fire temples of Parsi community are feared to be disturbed by this tunneling work.

The metro work doesn't only affect the over ground structure of their Fire temple but it also hurts their religious sentiments as it is being drilled just below their holy fire.

A major part of the tunnel will pass below the temples due to which the holy fire could be desecrated and the Bhikha Behram well could also be damaged.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's (MMRC) Metro III project is completely underground and will connect Colaba in south Mumbai to Bandra and Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) in the western suburbs of the city.