Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro: MMRC to tap social media, get image makeover

Ashwini Bhide, MMRC managing director, said, “We want to reach out to people and keep them updated about the status of the project. There are limitations in reaching out to people through traditional media. We share information, but whether it is published or not is not in our hands. So, we are tapping social media and trying to rope in a content management agency to help us develop a strategy.”

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The MMRC has met with strong criticism from the public, activists and politicians from parties such as the Shiv Sena, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its planning for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro. The corporation has been criticised over its plans of constructing a car shed at Goregaon’s Aarey Colony – one of the few green places in Mumbai, cutting trees for the fully-underground corridor, and moving residents from Kalbadevi and Girgaum – the oldest parts of Mumbai – to make way for Metro stations.

So far, MMRC’s response has been limited to publishing notices and clarifying that not thousands but just 28 buildings and 1,750 huts will be demolished for the project. It has also tried to pacify detractors by conducting public hearings with residents who will be affected by the project, holding meets with environment activists concerned about the city’s greenery and open spaces, and mollifying politicians. With dialogue helping the corporation only to a certain extent, MMRC has now decided to embrace the social media.

“This will be more crucial once actual work on the Metro begins. We have to keep updating citizens. We are also appointing a full-time public relations executive,” Bhide said.

The agency to be appointed will be entrusted with creating content, updating and monitoring social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and responding to queries and comments by citizens on these platforms. The firm, which the MMRC plans to rope in for 12 months initially, will also be responsible for designing and planning advertisements on web portals and online media.

manasi.phadke@expressindia.com