Land acquisition for Mumbai Metro only after due process

“Metro-3 project is for the city and Mumbaikars. The city is about to witness great development because of this project, the suburban trains will be decongested and we will be able to save 15-20 invaluable lives daily that we lose today,” says Ashiwni Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC)
Any land required for constructing the Mumbai Metro Line 3 will be acquired only after following due process and ensuring the resettlement of and compensation to the affected people, assured Ashiwni Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).
The authority has established a Hearing Committee to look after the resettlement and compensation. “A Compensation Committee has been established under the chairmanship of Sudhir Thackeray, a retired IAS officer. This Committee will look into the views of the residents and only after the Committee has decided an appropriate compensation the lands will be acquired,” she adds.
The 33.5-km long Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro rail corridor has been in news recently for protests and objections by the public on various issues ranging from protecting the environment to rehabilitation to cancellation of stations and even shortening of the alignment.
Ms Bhide maintained that only 2 hectares of land is required permanently and another 1.5 hectares on a temporary basis, spread over 121 areas in the city.
She said, “Most of the land is open and except at Girgaum and Kalbadevi, only a few houses and shops are getting affected. We are issuing notices to such affected families and owners to enable them to express themselves and for the negotiations as provided by section 126 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.”
Ms Bhide further urged that the residents, who have been issued notices, should come forward and express their views and respond to MMRC and not believe in the misleading news that “it is an effort to bulldoze away Marathi homes”.
“As far as the Dadar Metro Station is concerned, only 8 families residing in Satish Gupte House are being affected. Since there is no other open space available in the area this dilapidated building is being acquired. The notices are issued only to enable residents to putforth their views. The place will not be acquired unless the residents are heard and compensated appropriately,” assured Ms Bhide.
“Issuing notices is a routine procedure once the socio-economic survey has been completed. So, expressing displeasure against it or threatening agitations is found very painful,” said Ms Bhide.

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