`No Dadar family will be displaced for Metro-III' : The Times of India

Mumbai

Neither will any family be displaced nor will the Metro-III project require more than 2,000 sqft of land at Ranade Road junction in Dadar, assured R Ramana, executive director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL). The proposed 33.5km-long Colaba-BandraSeepz Metro corridor will require two hectares or less than five acres of private land, he added.

Ramana said the 2,000 sq ft to be acquired will be an open space or can be integrated with the three buildings' redevelopment plans. “This area is spread over three building plots and hence, the notice to the residents and land-owners of the buildings. The land is required for the south-end ventilator shaft. This amenity for the Metro-III will come up closest to Dayalji Apartment, which houses eight families,“ he said. The northend ventilator shaft will come up on the open space of Bank of Maharashtra.

The issuance of notices to the buildings' occupants had MNS up in arms. The party declared it would not allow any “Marathi manoos“ to be displaced due to the project.The proposed Metro-III carshed at Aarey has already been opposed by MNS and Shiv Sena.

Sena had always claimed Dadar was its stronghold until MNS won all the seven seats in the 2012 civic corporation elections. However, last year, MNS lost the Mahim assembly seat, that includes the area, to Sena. With civic elections slated for 2017, both Sena and MNS have joined the protests against the Metro-III project.

Last year, the MMRCL had carried out a survey of the area and selected the site.

“All three buildings are to go in for redevelopment.While one building has got approvals from the BMC, the proposal is at an advanced stage for another building and residents of the third building are still discussing redevelopment,“ said Ramana, adding the Metro-III project will not utilize the FSI potential of any of the plots.

The notices have been issued as MMRCL will have to sign MoUs with the land-owners. “This will enable MMRCL to acquire the land and for the land-owners to claim compensation,“ Ramana said.