Parsis prevent engineers from taking measurements at Girgaum

Construction underway for the Mumbai Metro (Express Photo/File)

Amid rising concerns among the Parsis with regard to the construction of the underground Metro route whose alignment passes below two fire temples in Girgaum, members of the community on Thursday blocked attempts by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation engineers to take measurements at the Metro 3 project site.

“Two junior engineers from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation were sent to take measurements at the Wadiaji Atash Behram. But they had no letter with them and we cannot allow any non-Parsi to enter the temple. We asked them to come back with written letters stating their purpose,” said Pervez Cooper, the vice-president of Clean Heritage Colaba Residents’ Asso-ciation. The Parsis are worried that tunnelling work under the fire temple will affect its sanctity. They have expressed their concern to PM Narendra Modi and to Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a petition on change.org.