Juhu, Vile Parle citizens plan to oppose Metro-2b line in October
MUMBAI: Residents of Vile Parle and Juhu will form a human chain between Mithibai College and Bandra to protest against the elevated Metro-2b line between DN Nagar and Mankhurd on October 5.
The residents, who have filed three public interest litigations in the court over the issue, are demanding an underground corridor. The 23.5-km Metro-2b corridor will run from DN Nagar to Mandale via the Bandra Kurla Complex. Nitin Killawala, a resident who is part of the protest and a member of the citizens’ association, said the state was not ready to reconsider its decision despite logical explanations. “We have been attempting to meet the chief minister for the past three years to show him the other side of the argument,” said Ashoke Pandit, filmmaker and a local resident.
Killawala, in a presentation, showed that there are multiple advantages of an underground corridor. “Future expansion of elevated Metro is not possible, which is easier with an underground corridor. It also won’t spoil the aesthetics of the city,” said Killawala, an architect.
PK Das, noted architect and a resident echoed the point and added, “The city already has narrow roads and a dense population. An elevated Metro corridor would further congest the city. SV Road and Link Road are lifelines of the western suburbs; they will be even more congested with Metro, its entry, exits, etc.”
The MMRDA, residents claimed, had earlier planned to build an underground corridor between Dahisar and Mankhurd, but changed the plan around four years ago. Currently, there is only one Metro corridor in plan —Colaba-bandra-seepz Metro-3 — which is under construction.