Planning Goes Professional

The flood of opposition in the form 8,000 complaints and suggestions to the government has forced officials to now “scrutinize” an alternative route suggested by these residents. “In any infrastructure project,the quality of life of the citizens and its users should improve,but the government is acting like a contractor. They want to finish the job and get going. How can this be accepted?” asks Nitin Killawala,an architect and one of the core member of the team which has designed a plan for an alternative underground corridor.

For these activists with busy professional lives,fighting for a cause for betterment of city amenities and services has been the “least” they could offer. Still,the journey has not been an easy one.

Since the nodal agency for the project issued the circular seeking suggestions and objections for the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro Rail corridor,these activists have had hectic schedules,making time for activism alongside other concerns. “It has been tough,but that’s the least we could do to offer something. We can’t always sit and complain that this is not right,that should be done. Every one of us should come forward and fight for what is wrong and unacceptable,” says Shirley Singh,a hotelier from JVPD.

They have behind them the support of thousands of residents of Juhu,Vile Parle,Khar,Santacruz and Bandra. “Since 2006 we had known that government is planning a metro route going through the area. But it was after the notification was issued on November 14 last year that we had a series of meetings trying to mobilise the members of various associations of different areas and file applications within the 15-day period,” Singh recalls. Killawala adds,“One cannot suffer in the name of development. This is a vertical assault on the residents the areas through which this elevated metro would pass.”

Another eminent architect,P K Das,who has also been involved in preparing the alternative plan,lambasts the planning authorities in the city for the haphazard approach towards development. “There is complete absence of planning or an integrated approach. The projects the government is undertaking are disparate and against public interest,” he opines.

The forum now plans to spread the movement from their areas to the eastern suburbs too,where they feel the congestion could worsen with the introduction of an elevated metro rail. “We’re trying to get in touch with locals there and want to take them with us in this movement. The Sion-Chembur stretch is also equally congested,” Killawala adds. If the government doesn’t pay heed to the demands of the forum,they plan to take the legal course to bring a stay on the metro.

“We’re not against the metro rail,but we want it underground,which will not sever future course of development in these areas,” Das reaffirms.

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