MMRC says Kalina not feasible for Metro car shed, it’s back to Aarey

CM had directed MMRC to explore Kalina plot as an option but Metro officials say it is not fit for a depot

Before the Mumbai civic polls, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had directed the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) to explore a plot at Kalina as an option for car depot of Metro-3 corridor. Now, a couple of weeks after the announcement, the MMRC officials said that the plot was not feasible for a depot.

On Tuesday, citizens’ group ‘Save Aarey’ — that has been opposing state government’s plan to build a metro car depot at Aarey Colony in Goregaon — met MMRC to discuss options for the car depot.

The group’s efforts had gained momentum during the recent Mumbai civic polls with citizens pledging their support for the party that was keen on saving green spaces.

According to SK Gupta, director of projects, MMRC, the

meeting was an “informal” discussion. “The Kalina option has been examined many times. A special committee formed by the state government had also examined it but it is not fit to have a complete depot. Kalina does not have sufficient space to build a depot and we explained that to citizen

group,” Gupta told HT.

According to Gupta, the problem with the Kalina land is not only its size but also its specifications. The Kalina plot, which is adjacent to the Mumbai University campus in Kalina, is about 28 hectares. “Size is a misnomer and we tried to explain it to the citizens’ group that the plot has to be of a particular orientation. Since it (Kalina plot) has been examined by experts, who are aware of these specifications, we should accept their decision,” said Gupta.

Meanwhile, the citizen’s group said that the MMRC did not share all the details with them. “It was nothing but an exercise in futility. The officials were reluctant to share the complete data, facts and documents on the Kalina plot’s survey,” said Stalin Dayanand of NGO Vanashakti.

Aarey Colony in Goregaon (East) is one of last remaining green spaces in the city.

A car depot is the crucial part of a Metro project, and government’s decision to house it in a 33-hectare plot in Aarey colony has met with a lot of opposition from citizen groups, environmentalists and even political parties.