‘Aligning Metro III along coastal road will benefit few Mumbaikars’

MUMBAI: The state government exploring the option of aligning Metro III along the coastal road has created unease among a section of citizens who have been opposing the proposed car shed at Aarey.
“A metro must pass densely populated areas and offer easy commute from one place to another. The metro along the coastal road will not benefit the vast majority,” said Rishi Agarwal, an environmentalist.The current alignment of Metro III, he said, needed a little modification.
“Instead of Aarey if the government were to shift the metro car shed to Kanjurmarg salt pan lands it would benefit many more people especially those living in Powai and Saki Vihar road,” he said. On buildings that need to be demolished, Agarwal said most of the buildings in Kalbadevi, Girgaum are old and dilapidated. If government were to rehabilitate the displaced people in the same vicinity and offer a good compensation, people would not mind making way for the project, he said.
“A metro along the coast would mean people living in the inner city areas would need to use other means of transportation to reach their place of work. For instance lower Parel which is now a business hub would still be inconvenient to reach,” he said.
Architect P K Das said an underground Metro only needs entry, exit points on the surface besides space for ventilator shafts. “The entry/exit points do not need to be over the station. They should be in areas where a large mass of people can access them as it in cities across the world. The city will benefit from Metro III only if it passes through the hinterland. On the coast it will serve only those who travel north to south,” he said.
Transport Activist A V Shenoy said the present Metro III alignment is through the centre of the city and if it is shifted to the coast then commuters would need to use connectors such as autos, taxis and bus to access it. “It would only add to congestion. In my opinion the government must give priority to Metro II from Bandra to Dahisar as these areas need this connectivity. The present railway system adequately services the island city,” he said.
J N Sukhadwala, a resident of Girgaum whose house and shop will be affected by the Metro said the government had not issued any Government Resolution offering them the promised compensation. “We do not wish to live in transit camps. The Metro III along the coast will have environmental consequences. Instead the government should on priority build the trans Barbour link that will add more land to the city,” he said.
A Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd spokesperson said the government has already appointed a consultant to find alternatives for affected residents in the same vicinity. Also a committee was set up to find an alternative to Aarey. The committee is yet to submit its report.