The metro station at Andheri (East), at a height of 22m, will be the highest on the first corridor, Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar.
Just how elevated can be the elevated metro? If the highest point at which the first metro corridor of Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) will be running is 22 m at the Western Express Highway metro station, in case of the second corridor, it will be 47 m.
According to documents submitted by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in the Bombay high court regarding a PIL by residents association, the average height of a metro station of Metro-II is equal to a 10-storey building, at a height of 30 m.
The authority has submitted a number of clearances issued by various other agencies in court with regard to the PIL. As per one of them — an NoC given by the Airport Authority of India, the average height of the 32 stations of the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd corridor ranges between 28.7 m and 47.8 m from Average Mean Sea Level (AMSL).
According to experts, the AMSL in Mumbai is not more than seven metres, which means the stations will be 21-41 metres high on an average.
Architect Nitin Killawala, one of the petitioners against the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route being elevated, feels that stations at such heights are unimaginable.
“What this means is that the minimum height of a metro station itself will be close to 10 floors. The highest station as per the copy of NoC is at Shivaji Chowk in Chembur, which will be 47.8 m high; that would be parallel to the 15th floor. Which fire brigade ladder can reach this station in case of any mishap?” he asked.
However, MMRDA officials as well as Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd defended the heights. According to KP Maheshwari, director of MMOPL, these heights should not be of any concern.
“The heights are standard and around the world metro stations are constructed at such heights,” he said.
When asked about the stations at Vile Parle (near the Milan Subway on SV Road) and Nanavati hospital not being permitted, Maheshwari said that MMRDA officials are taking care of it. MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kawathkar said that the issue of height permissions is being sorted out.
“We will verify the heights of the Vile Parle and Nanavati stations and the guidelines issued by AAI will be followed,” he assured.
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