Residents push for underground Metro-6

To overcome technical difficulties in constructing the elevated metro, a huge chunk of the JVLR ends up being used up by the pillars for a safe transport. With a lane already used for parking, this road will be reduced to a gully and be subject to traffic jams forever. SONALI MISHRA, engineer

Poonam Mahajan.

Mishra said, “The JVLR is a six-lane arterial road. To overcome the technical difficulties in constructing the elevated metro, a huge chunk of the road will end up being used up by the pillars for a safe transport. With a lane already being wilfully used for parked vehicles, this major road will be reduced to a gully and subject to traffic jams forever.”

The residents have also initiated a campaign on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. They are also trying to meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the issue.

Metro-6 will start from Lokhandwala and move via the JVLR to the Eastern Express Highway where the last stop will be at Vikhroli.

The citizens instead are demanding an underground route that will start from Marol naka and move to Chandivali, go behind the Hiranandani Complex in Powai and reach LBS marg.

Senior officials of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) have cited cost escalations in the project if they opt for an underground metro.

“The cost of an underground metro is three times an elevated metro. As far as Metro-6 is concerned, we have already started the barricading work,” a senior official from MMRDA said.

This is not the first time citizens are demanding an undergound Metro. Residents of western suburbs are also demanding an underground Metro-2b (DN Nagar to Mandale). However, Metro-3 (Colaba-bandra-seepz) is the only fully undeground metro for the city.