Metro III work to be halted for Ganpati

With a view to avoid hindrance to the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival and to facilitate smooth movement of devotees, construction work of the Metro III (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) line at some sites will be stopped on request.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) stated that it will cooperate with the Ganpati mandals and shift the barricades, stop the construction work and vacate lanes for smooth flow of traffic.

Recently, there were several issues raised by various Ganpati mandals as the construction work of the Metro III line has blocked certain major junctions especially in South Mumbai.

Moreover, the metro barricading would add to the traffic congestion on the days of immersion of the Ganpati idols.

The MMRC has thus decided to cooperate with the mandals and even halt the construction work if needed.

Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of the MMRC, said, “We will shift our barricades so that we provide more space for the flow of traffic and the people visiting the Ganesh pandals. We will also stop the work if needed at various sites. This activity will be done starting from the fifth day of the festival up to the last day as that is when the immersion of the idol begins.”

The barricades at Girgaon-Kalbadevi and Dadar-Sitaladevi metro construction sites will be shifted.

“At Dadar and Sitaladevi one lane will be available for traffic police. While at the airport Metro construction sites, land has been provided for the Ganesh pandals,” the managing director added.