Metro-9 depot: Villagers to hold meeting tomorrow

The area in Rai village where the Metro-9 car depot is proposed to come up. Pic/Nimesh Dave

While the MMRDA has invited tenders for conducting topographical survey and geotechnical investigation services for Mumbai Metro-9 depot at Rai Murdhe, villagers of Rai, Murdha and Morva villages have called a meeting of all the project-affected people tomorrow (February 23), opposing the project. More than 1,000 people have submitted their suggestions and objections to the authorities till February 21.

Jayesh Bhoir, a Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation corporator and a resident of one of the villages, said, "Our stand is clear: we are not against metro, we are against the car depot which is going to displace locals/farmers. We demand that the government look for an alternative site for the car-shed. A meeting will be held on Wednesday for the villagers to come together and decide on further course of action."

While the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has stated they require 20 ha for the project, villagers claimed around 90-100 acres of land is required to set up the car depot. The land which has been identified for the project covers parts of Rai, Morve and Murdha villages, under MBMC jurisdiction. Locals further claimed that around 329 farmers may get affected due to the project.

Recently mid-day visited these villages and found that many locals were against the depot.

Ramesh Patil from Rai village said, "More than 1,000 people from the three villages have registered their protest against the car depot of Metro-9 by submitting suggestions and objections to the authorities. However, they invited tenders for surveys without paying heed."

Metro-9 is an extension of Metro-7 from Andheri to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Dahisar to Mira-Bhayandar.

The line will cover a distance of 13.581 km (11.386 km elevated and 2.195 km underground) and will have 10 stations. It shall provide interconnectivity to Western Express Highway, Western Railway, the ongoing Metro-2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar) and Metro-7 (Andheri East to Dahisar East).

A maintenance depot has also been proposed at Mira Bhayandar which will reduce the current travel time by 50-75 per cent, depending on road conditions.

329
No. of farmers who may get affected, as per locals