Another threat to city’s green lungs? 32-storey Metro HQ at Aarey soon

Officials say no need for BMC permissions after special status; activists cry foul

MUMBAI: There’s a new threat to the green space of Aarey Milk Colony — a 32-storey “iconic” Metro Bhavan — an operation and control centre for the Mumbai Metro.

Last month, the state government granted the tag of special planning authority (SPA) to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), to speed up five Metro projects. With the special tag, MMRDA will get possession of land parcels spread over 73 hectares in the city and Thane, and have the right over the alignment of five upcoming Metro corridors. MMRDA plans to construct Metro Bhavan, as a centralised operation and control centre (OCC) for all the city’s Metro lines. The 32-storey building will also have commercial spaces that would be leased out. “We are working on the plan to construct the Metro Bhavan, an operation and control centre. The plot size is over 5.03 acre, and with the floor space index (FSI) of four, we plan to construct an iconic 32-storey building,” said Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA. A look at the controversy surrounding Metro-3 work in Aarey Colony

length of Colaba-bandra-seepz (Metro-3) corridor Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL)— the project implementing agency— has already started work for constructing a depot at the plot

Environmentalists have opposed state government’s move to construct a car depot for Metro-3 inside Aarey Milk Colony as it is one of the few remaining green spaces left in the city

Activists had approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to get a stay on any construction at

The proposed area for Metro Bhavan is near Seepz where a number of commercial establishments are already located. MMRDA has appointed a consultant to prepare a detailed project report for it. “We are the SPA now Importance: Will connect south Mumbai to western suburbs

hectares of area at Aarey Milk Colony that has been proposed for the car depot the site till final orders

The city's Development Plan (DP) 2034 has given Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon (East) a "green area" tag

At the same time, DP-2034 has made provisions to allow three projects – Colaba-bandra-seepz Metro-3 depot, rehabilitation of adivasis in Sanjay Gandhi National Park and a zoo – inside the conlony Reservation in DP-2034 has paved the way for the car depot

COLABA

and hence there is no need to go to the civic body or other authorities for permissions,” said a senior official.

Aarey Milk Colony, in Goregaon east, is one of the last remaining green lungs of the city. AAREY DEPOT SEEPZ

BKC Environmentalists, activists and even the Shiv Sena, which controls Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), have opposed the state’s plan to eat into portions of the region for the Metro project.

In the past, activists have opposed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s plan to house a car depot for the Colababandra-seepz Metro-3 corridor in Aarey Colony. BMC has rejected a proposal to cut trees for the construction of the car depot on a 25-hectare plot adjoining the Jogeshwari-vikhroli Link Road.

Now the decision to build a tower in Aarey Milk Colony could prove controversial. A senior MMRDA official said the agency had sought 20,387sqm or 5.03-acre plot in Pahadi village, one of the 12 villages in the colony, to house a labour camp, a casting yard and Metro Bhavan. Approximately 7,500sqm or 1.8 acres would be needed for the proposed OCC. MMRDA could lease out a few floors of the building to generate additional revenue later. The parts of the plot that remain unused would be returned.

Stalin D, director of Vanashakti, who spearheaded the “Save Aarey” movement said that the step is a violation of the stay order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). “There is a stay order on any activities by the NGT for the entire Aarey Colony. This attempt shows that the state does not care about the courts,” Stalin said. MUMBAI: A special POCSO court on Thursday convicted a 22-yearold man to life imprisonment for sodomising and attempting to murder a three-year-old under the influence of alcohol in 2015.

The prosecution said the accused took the boy to a secluded spot where he sodomised him and attempted to choke him. The boy was rescued by locals who had spotted the accused. The incident came to light after the boy’s father noticed he was bleeding.

Public prosecutor Geeta Sharma said medical report of the child confirmed he was sexually assaulted.

The court made its judgment based on the report and testimony of witnesses who had spotted the accused.