Tuesday Brief

Friends, all of you might be remembering various blog  I had written earlier on the subject of Mumbai Metro 3 (underground project. The project was having trouble from day 1 regarding the location of its car shed. The metro is from Colaba in South Mumbai to SEEPZ in western suburbs of Mumbai, covering a distance of approx 33 kms. Earlier Car shed was planned in Aarey area, which is biggest green area of Mumbai. There was protest from green activists regarding cutting of trees, as claimed by them it was a forest area. Shivsena  was part of coalition govt  in Maharashta with BJP, also started siding with activists. The matter went to High Court (HC) and then to Supreme Court (SC).  In the end SC allowed the construction of car shed in Aarey, and the construction was started, in the process  2000+ trees were cut.

Then after the state assembly elections, although Shivsena fought the election with BJP. BJP won 50+ more seats than Shivsena. It was Shivsena who insisted on CM post, which BJP did not agree. So in the Shivsena formed the govt with support from NCP and Congress and Udhav Thackrey, Shivsena president became CM.  Udhav Thackrey did, immediately after becoming CM, he issued the order for stopping the construction work in Aarey, saying that alternative site will be notified shortly. In the end after almost 10 months he declared that car shed will be shifted to area in Kanjur Marg, and Metro 6 (Vikhroli to Thane)  car shed will also be located there. This area which was allotted for car shed was also considered earlier, but  certain part of the area which is given to lease to some private party was under litigation, and as area is more than 8 Km away from Aarey it was not considered feasible at that time. Secondly on record it was also found the earlier the same area was under salt pan land, and all the land which in the salt pan area is considered to be owned by Central govt.

Now after this decision was announced that, there was much hue and cry, and in the end Centre filed a case against State govt in HC, that they have no right to change the end use of the land as the salt pan land is owned by Central govt.

Few days back HC gave the order to stop any construction work, as the land ownership is with centre. Now after the delay of more than year, we are back to square one. Now we do not know when this project will be completed? When the car shed was shifted from Aarey to Kanjur Marg, the cost escalation was estimated Rs 5000 Cr and delay of 4 years. Now we do not know when this project will be over and what will be increase in cost?

Udhav Thackrey , after becoming CM  had appointed  one panel to look into the alternative sites. This appointed Saunik Panel had submitted report as back as Jan 2020, which was not released to public. Govt did not accept the findings of this panel. Now this report has come into open, and what was their report:

• It clearly stated there will be many challenges of ‘technical integration’ and ‘complexity of interface’ between Metro lines 3 & 6 if the car shed is to bee shifted to Kanjurmarg. It warned that the significant alterations would be needed in the line 6, if the line 3 car shed is to be located at Kanjurmarg.
• Line 6 works would need to be suspended. The administrative responsibility for reviewing, redesigning and constructing the line 6 would have to transferred to Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) to examine whether joint running is operationally possible between Kanjurmarg & Aarey. This would also require approval of MMRCL Board, MMRDA, Maharashtra govt and central Govt.
• As line 6 is planned with 6 coaches and line 3 with 8 coaches. A different signalling of line 6 will complicate the matter.
• Kanjurmarg is low lying and marshy, which would mean ground improvements and filling works would be needed and that may take long time.
• Kanjurmarg is 8 Km from the Aarey site. Additional infrastructure would be needed for 8 Km raising cost by Rs 5000 Cr.
• If this site is finalised, the construction might take 60/70 months to complete, from the date of starting geotechnical and topographically investigations.. This delay will put overall project commissioning by 4 years beyond December 2021.

• Land cost-If state is unable to prove the ownership of land, and if private owner has to compensated 2.5 times the ready reckoner value would have to be paid.
• Numerous tenders would have to be cancelled causing financial liability or litigation. Fresh tenders would have to be floated with changed specifications and this would increase the cost of project.
• Considering all the above aspects, Panel is of the opinion shifting of car shed from Aarey to Kanjurmarg is not advisable.

Now today’s news also says that Maharashtra govt has started looking for alternative sites,, and one site at Goregaon  is the right one, as per govt sources. This site is also  about 4 Km from the Aarey site. Govt will have to acquire this land, which is a private land, and no idea how much it will cost. What will be cost escalation and delay no one knows if this site is fanalised.

In my opinion all of this is a futile exercise, and if state  govt  wants to do, then what  ????

State govt under Udhav Thackrey is playing with exchequer money, public inconvenience at what cost? Just to satisfy the ego of  one man, who was siding with green activists to stop construction at Aarey. Now what is the logic behind all these exercises? That fact is green activists were trying to save trees in Aarey area, now when more than 85 % trees are already cut, and SC had taken undertaking from the Contractor they will not cut more trees, then what was wrong in continuing with Aarey site.

This is why it is said that “ Politics is Dirty Game” But in the end sufferer is common man.

Awaiting your views/comments/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

22^nd December 2020.