The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to receive a 71.04-hectare plot of land in Thane for the construction of car sheds for four metro routes. This move, approved by the state cabinet, is expected to accelerate the progress of various metro projects, including the vital Metro 4 route, which has faced delays due to the lack of a car shed. The allocation of this land is seen as a crucial step in improving Mumbai's public transportation infrastructure and connectivity across the region, benefiting commuters and easing congestion in the city.
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A plot of land in Thane, measuring 71.04 hectares, is soon to be allocated to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the construction of car sheds for four metro routes. The approval of this proposal by the state cabinet is expected to expedite the metro construction process, particularly for Metro 4, which is the longest metro route in Mumbai, stretching over 32 kilometres.
The plot, situated in Survey No 30, will house car sheds for several critical metro routes, including: Metro 4: Connecting Wadala to Kasarwadavli, Metro 4A: Connecting Kasarwadavli to Gaimukh, Metro 10: Running from Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk in Mira Road and Metro 12: Linking Kalyan to Taloja.
Progress on the construction of Metro 4 has been impeded due to the absence of a car shed. Currently, only 43 percent of the civil work is complete, leading to several missed deadlines. The pursuit of this land allocation was championed by Sanjay Mukherjee, MMRDA commissioner, and his predecessor S V R Srinivas.
The recent push for the Metro 4 project to gain momentum can be attributed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who seeks to accelerate its progress as it connects his constituency in Thane to Mumbai. The plot in Mogharpada, Thane, which is owned by the state, had previously been utilized for agricultural purposes and was leased to 167 lessees. It is situated in proximity to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Ghodbunder Road.
In June, the construction of the car shed was met with opposition from residents of Mogharpada. They demanded that local administration compensate them before commencing the work. This led to protests by local villagers, who staged demonstrations in front of the Thane revenue office when officials from the revenue and MMRDA visited the site ahead of the monsoon.
Support from local Shiv Sena functionaries, who advocated for the villagers' concerns, prompted them to write to then MMRDA commissioner SVR Srinivas, requesting a halt to the process. It is anticipated that land occupiers will receive 22.5 percent of the developed land as compensation, following a policy similar to CIDCO's.
In August, MMRDA secured land for another car shed, this time for Metro Line 12, which will run from Kalyan to Taloja at Miljepada. The Thane collector transferred 47 hectares of land at Niljepada to MMRDA for the depot. This land in Thane is provided at no cost, with the order to allocate it to MMRDA as Occupant Class-II issued by district collector Ashok Shingare.
In conclusion, the allocation of land in Thane for car sheds is a significant development in expediting the metro construction in Mumbai. Metro 4, being the longest metro route in the city, stands to benefit greatly from this move, along with several other critical metro routes, contributing to improved public transportation and connectivity across the region.
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