18 March,2015 08:32 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Residents of Girgaum, Chira Bazaar, Grant Road who will be displaced by the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro line, had asked to be rehabilitated in the same area; the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation had claimed Line 3 was planned after taking them into confidence
While the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) claims that the Colaba- Bandra- Seepz Metro line three has been planned by taking into confidence the people staying along the planned corridor, information revealed with the help of an RTI request states otherwise.
355 structures in Girgaum will have to be demolished for the Metro Line 3
It said that the MMRC will be rehabilitating Project Affected People (PAPs) at Chakala, Oshiwara, Kurla, Vidyavihar, and Wadala. This, though residents have asked to be rehabilitated in the same area. The RTI reply also states that the proposed project may impact a total of 2,223 buildings.
A senior citizen looks at an announcement of the protest to be held today against the Metro. Pics/Bipin Kokate
Apart from this, 241 other structures will have to be demolished in Mahim and other areas during the construction. RTI activist Anil Galgali had filed a query with the MMRC on February 26, 2015, regarding project details and a list of structures which will be affected during the construction of Metro Line 3.
Galgali said, "There are 24 spots with structures between Cuffe Parade and Aarey Colony, and 241 buildings at Naya Nagar, Mahim that are coming in the way of this project. Out of the total 2,223, 1,544 are residential buildings, 576 commercial, 31 buildings are residential and commercial and there are 72 other constructions."
In the RTI query, the applicant had also asked the MMRC about the locations where PAPs will be rehabilitated, to which the reply was that the rehabilitation is planned in areas like Chakala, Oshiwara, Kurla, Vidyavihar. "MMRC replied that slum dwellers occupying public places will be shifted to MMRDA's buildings in Bhakti Park, Wadala and Wonderland, Oshiwara.
These buildings have flats admeasuring 225 sq feet. HDIL has started work on construction of houses under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). Under this project, construction is going on in full swing near Premier at Kurla (West), near Bhandari Metalgrij, Kurla (East) and at Chakala, Andheri. Houses admeasuring 269 sq ft will be made available," added Galgali.
