‘Cost of Metro-4 will triple to ₹45K cr if it is underground’

MUMBAI:THE Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), in a statement on Tuesday, said the cost of the Metro-4 (Wadala-kasarvadavli) line would triple if made underground. The reaction came a day after a Thane-based NGO approached the Bombay high court (HC) demanding the line be made underground.

The Metro-4 line connects Mumbai and Thane via a 32.32-km elevated corridor and MMRDA has already begun work on it. “The cost of the Metro 4 corridor (₹15,000 crore) would triple to ₹45,000 crore, if implemented underground. Besides, MMRDA is also implementing 12 other Metro corridors and would require the funds,” the statement read.

The NGO, Thane Nagarik Pratishthan, said on Monday that in its petition filed in April, activists stated that an elevated corridor could lead to traffic congestion, cutting of trees and displacement of the residents.

Local MLA Pratap Sarnaik also issued a statement saying that going against the Metro-4 corridor would mean going against development. “Whatever the issues, it can be sorted with the authorities. I request people not to put road blocks on our decade-old effort to get Metro in Thane.” The NGO also alleged that the project was being implemented in a discreet manner, without divulging any details to residents. According to a RTI sought by the NGO, MMRDA conducted a public consultation with project affected people (PAP) in 2018, which was attended by 260 people. But the number is misrepresented, as according to the same RTI, MMRDA is undertaking resettlement of 1,170 people for the Metro-4 line.

Hema Ramani, an activist from Thane, said, “Even corporators did not know about the meetings. This was in contrast to Metro-3 public consultations which were held for every station.”

Meanwhile, Powai residents also demanded Metro-6 (Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli) be made underground. While MMRDA has started construction on Metro 6, it has arranged a public meeting on May 21. Residents of western suburbs have also been fighting a court battle to make Metro-2b (DN Nagar to Mandale) underground.