Not discriminating between South Mumbai and suburbs: MMRDA

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has said they di not discriminate between the residents of South Mumbai and the western and eastern suburbs while deciding whether to have an underground or elevated Metro corridor. Technical and financial feasibility of a particular project were the only considerations.

This comes after some residents filed a case in the Bombay High court challenging the construction of the DN Nagar-Mandale Mankhurd Metro-2B corridor. The residents of the suburbs demanded they want an underground Metro corridor like that of South Mumbai's Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 corridor.

An MMRDA official said, "We have informed the court that we are not giving any preference to anyone and the planning of the Metro projects have been done on the basis of technical requirements and feasibility. Underground Metro construction is costlier than the elevated Metro corridors."

Several residents of Andheri, Juhu, Khar, and Bandra pointed out that an elevated Metro corridor at major arterial roads — SV Road and Link Road — will lead to traffic congestion, and that the elevated corridor would also close doors for expansion.

Gautam Rao, a resident of Khar, who has opposed to the Metro-2B corridor being an elevated corridor said, "It is an eyewash. How is it that underground Metro corridor is feasible in South Mumbai but not the suburbs? Also, cost shouldn't be an issue, considering the state government has been saying that arranging funds is not a problem."

The Bombay High court on Thursday also said it cannot decide if the proposed Metro-2B corridor in western and eastern suburbs can be underground or elevated and asked the MRDA to examine the same and file a reply within 10 days.