Aarey depot: Officials, activists spar over tree-cutting

MUMBAI: After being in cold storage for the past several months, the construction of the Aarey Colony metro depot has come to the fore once more, thanks to the ongoing Twitter war between the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) and green activists.

MMRC managing director Ashwini Bhide and activists opposing the depot engaged in heated discussions on Twitter on Monday While MMRC officials tive for the 30-hectare colony, activists said they will not allow the MMRC to chop a single tree. The development casts doubts on a possible compromise in the issue, which has already delayed the project.those close to the development said things may turn ugly if the issue is not resolved soon. MMRC has started construction work for the underground corridor of the 33.5km Colaba- Bandra-seepz Metro 3. Hence, it has to ensure the depot is built soon so the construction of the corridor is not affected

Group — an umbrella body of protesters fighting against the cutting of 2 298 trees in the colony

depot to Kanjurmarg and Kalina.

“The depot will not just lead to tree cutting but will open up the MMRC cannot go ahead with the construction as the matter is subjudice. MMRC can build a depot in Kanjurmarg with a small stabling yard in the Mumbai University campus in Kalina,” said D Stalin, environmentalist.

“The state -appointed committee found other options unviable. We are trying to reduce the area of the depot to 20 hectares to minimise tree cutting. We will plant and transplant other trees,” Bhide said. He said the construction is expected to start in six months so the MMRC will invite