Centre writes to Maharashtra for a rethink on Metro car shed site; HC asks two sides to forget past conflicts

The state government, which scrapped the Metro car shed at Aarey, was seeking the 102-acre salt pan land in Kanjurmarg to build a Metro car shed and an interchange station for Metro lines 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ), Metro line 4 (Kasarwadavali-Wadala) and Metro Line 6 (Lokhandwala-Vikhroli).

In order to sort out technical issues that may arise in doing so, the DMRC and MMRDA consultant, M/s SYSTRA, held two meetings on October 14 and December 12 last year and the report was submitted in February 11 this year.

As per the MoHUA letter, the report suggests that the integrated depot for the present layout of Mumbai Metro line 3(Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) and Metro Line 6 (Lokhandwala-Vikhroli) has operational and maintenance constraints and they should have separate depots.

The letter points out a few constraints such as, having one depot for the two lines will have adverse impact on restoration time in the event of failure of Line-3 trains during regular operation period and 100 per cent punctual operation throughout the trips all the time in a day is rarely possible in real life operations.

Also it would be a challenging task to maintain the frequency of trains at every 4 minutes continuously for 3 or more hours and any change or issue in the timing of arrival and departure of the trains may lead to disruption of services on Metro line 3 and 6.There is a requirement of same signalling system from the Line-3 supplier for Line-6 and hence, related compulsions.

“DMRC and M/s SYSTRA both agree that above constraints are inherited with the integrated depot for the present respective layout of two given Metro line-3 and Line-6. Ideally lines should be catered with individual depots…As analysed by SYSTRA, integration of Line-3 and Line-6 is feasible with above listed constraints. Thus, the proposed integration of two lines at Seepz village station will be a permanent risk to reliable train operations of both the lines. It, is therefore, suggested that the decision of integrated depot should be taken only if absolutely unavoidable even with possible mitigation measures/optimisations in the present plans,” the letter says.

It also says that the conclusion drawn by Maharashtra Chief Secretary Committee report that Aarey depot is insufficient to cater to the project design life requirement of Metro Line-3 is factually incorrect. “As per records available in the report, it is evident the sanctioned land at Aarey is sufficient to meet the full traffic requirement up to horizon year 2055. However, till date this office has not received any response from GoM in this regard,” it says.

“It would not be a prudent decision to shift location of shed to Kanjurmarg at this stage of project on this premise particularly when the project is In significantly advance stage of completion,” the letter says, adding that the Aarey land also does not have any legal impediments.

The letter also requests the state government to allow the construction of the depot at Aarey.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Thursday said that the conflict between the Centre and the Maharashtra government over building the Metro car shed and an interchange station for proposed Metro corridors in Kanjurmarg can be resolved by forgetting past differences, considering that “escalating costs” put a burden on “public money”.

“Please forget past conflicts of opinion and try to make a new beginning. Every day, costs of the project are escalating. After all, we cannot forget that it is people’s money,” said a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish S Kulkarni.

Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh informed the court about the MoHUA letter to the state Chief Secretary, asking that the decision to shift the project to Kanjurmarg be reconsidered.

In a setback to the state government, the HC had on December 16, 2020, stayed the October 1, 2020, order of the Mumbai suburban district collector that had transferred the 102-acre plot to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to build a Metro car shed. The state had, on October 11, 2020, announced scrapping of the car shed project at Aarey Milk Colony.

The HC, which restrained the state from carrying out operations in Kanjurmarg till further orders, is yet to decide whether the state or the Centre owns the land.

The division bench was hearing an interim application filed by the MMRDA, seeking to vacate or modify the HC’s interim stay. Seeking permission to execute the project, the MMRDA said that since it is a “public project of urgency” and work has already commenced, it is ready to give an undertaking that it will provide all benefits and compensation to which the owner and/or lessee would be entitled on acquisition of the land under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.

Representing MMRDA, senior advocate Darius Khambata said he was not made aware of the MoHUA letter. He added that if there was an expert opinion on Kanjurmarg land, MMRDA will consider it, however, the stay should be vacated as the project needs to be completed.

“We know what is happening. We are all here to serve the public. Why bring personal differences in the court? Sort those outside the court. These matters can be resolved… All we can say is end this stalemate now. Try to forget the past opinions and make a new beginning…,” the bench said.

Singh said no personal differences are involved in the matter. “We are doing this for the larger interest of the people of Mumbai in the long run… We are consulting experts, who have also recommended shifting the project to Aarey colony.”

Posting the next hearing on June 10, the HC asked MMRDA to consider the Centre’s letter and sought to know the state’s position on the same.