MMRDA writes to state, wants to rule its transport corridors

UPS Madan, metropolitan commissioner at MMRDA, said that currently under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, there is no provision to construct viaducts or stations on roads within the city’s development plan.“Ultimately, even for a government building, a local body clearance is required. So we have written to the state government asking for clarity on this, as to who should give such clearances in case of construction of viaducts and stations on the city’s roads. To avoid such issues in the future, we have asked that the project implementing agency in such cases be appointed as the special planning authority for the areas under the alignment,” Madan said.

The development authority stumbled upon this quandary last month when it was writing to the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), saying that the latter had constructed more area than required at the Metro car depot in DN Nagar. The authority had asked MMOPL to hand-over the excess area constructed.

“There was lack of clarity regarding who should take action in case we find that there has been any violation,” Madan said.

He added that the issue of whether a local body clearance is needed was more pertinent to the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro as it was on a public-private-partnership model and involved a private entity in charge of construction. The monorail, on the other hand, was constructed with MMRDA in charge.

“The Metro Act is also silent on this issue. It is derived from the Railways Act, which assumes that approvals of the local authority are not required for railway works. But it did not envisage a situation where a private player would execute such projects,” Madan said.

The 11.4-km Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro was completed and opened for public use in June. The 8.8-km Chembur-Wadala monorail was completed earlier in February, while work on the Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor is underway.

The MMRDA is now planning to start work on the 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro, which is currently in the tendering process.

Besides, they have also planned to construct a 40.2-km Dahisar-Bandra-Charkop Metro and a Wadala-Thane-Kasarvadavali Metro line.

manasi.phadke@expressindia.com