By Apurva Bhatt
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd(MMRCL) managing director Aswhini Bhide has specifically ruled out change in alignment for the Metro III corridor, which has met with opposition from Girgaum and Cuffe Parade residents.
Speaking at the event organized at the Press Club, She said, "As of now, there are no plans to change the alignment. If we concede to change the alignment at one place, there will be similar demands from residents of other places. It will also mean taking the project again to the drawing board."
Residents of Cuffe Parade have demanded termination of the Metro at Vidhan Bhavan station, while tenants of buildings in Girgaum and Kalbadevi fear permanent displacement if they are shifted out of the locality for this project.
Bhide also allayed fears about disposal of muck generated by the digging work for the underground metro. She said, "A total of 180 trucks will ferry muck every day from seven different locations along the corridor. In effect, there would not be more than 7 to 8 trucks from each location across the city per day."
She said MMRCL had planned the Metro corridor in such a manner that there would be minimal impact on traffic. Nearly 60 per cent of the 27 Metro stations along this corridor are in open space or on internal roads and not on the main arterial roads.
Bhide refused to comment on the fate of the car shed proposed at Aarey. She said, "A committee has been appointed to look into the matter." She also said MMRCL is open to suggestions from residents on traffic management.
