In the latest case, late ex-chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's politician son Amit Deshmukh's unwillingness to part with Manjara Charitable Trust land for Dahisar-Charkop-DN Nagar metro car depot has resulted in state authorities being forced to look at another plot.
Politicians bag prime parcels of land from the government for their "trusts" and "foundations", but when it comes to sharing or to part with the very same piece of land, the beneficiaries are either reluctant or unwilling to give it for larger public benefit. But the very same group of elected representatives want public to part with their own homes and establishments for public projects. Thereby, proving if they really are serving public by becoming public representatives.
In the latest case, late ex-chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's politician son Amit Deshmukh's unwillingness to part with Manjara Charitable Trust land for Dahisar-Charkop-DN Nagar metro car depot has resulted in state authorities being forced to look at another plot.
The alternative that is being zeroed in is at Pahadi area near Shastri Nagar in Goregaon (W) so that decks can be cleared at the earliest and can be handed over to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to implement this 18.60-km long corridor also known as Metro 2A.
This option is being seriously considered now, as the earlier plan to get 19.50 hectares at Charkop for the car depot is not heading in the right direction.
The plots, at Charkop, that the Mumbai metropolitan region development authority (MMRDA) wanted is state owned, whereas, the latest plot at Goregaon is owned by a private party.
The plot, at Goregaon, does not have any encroachments, thus there will not be any rehabilitation and resettlement involved. Presently, rounds of talks are underway between the state government and the private player to reach a common ground.
"Meetings were held with Amit Deshmukh wherein he was offered an alternate site at Gorai, but there wasn't any keenness from his end. This prompted to look for other sites," said a state official. Furthermore, there are other government facilities too that have been earmarked on this land, one of it being metropolitan magistrate's court.
Ever since the elevated Dahisar-Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd metro line was conceptualised, the Goregaon plot has been there in the list of alternative lands for the car depot. But the state government wanted to make attempts with its land bank before moving to privately owned plots.
The initial option to have a car depot at Charkop had hit hurdle in 2011 as it was under the Coastal Regulatory Zone and the ministry of environment and forests had raised objections and stringent conditions to allow construction on the site. Thereafter, last year, the MMRDA preferred government land at Charkop on which Manjara Charitable Trust has possession on one of the plots.
As per the plans, Dahisar-Charkop-DN Nagar project will have 17 stations and completion cost has been estimated at Rs6,410 crore. The completion of the project has been scheduled at March 2019.
Despite several attempts Amit Deshmukh was unavailable for comments in this issue.
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