How well planned is Mumbai’s Metro?
By RKB with Adv Pradeep Nambiar
So why have Metro pillars been dug right through the 11 flyovers on the 16 km stretch between Andheri and Dahisar?
Is that safe?
Is that secure?
With three Foot Overbridges having suffered disaster in the last one year isn’t this weakening the flyovers?
Work on the Mumbai Metro Line 7 is in full swing; so is 2B!
The earlier date of completion for 7 was December 2019, now it’s 2022!
*And the desperation to complete it is such that the 11 flyovers from Andheri to Dahisar have been pierced with holes to accommodate the pillars of the Metro that will run overhead!
*These 11 flyovers are part of 55 flyovers built in Mumbai that were supposed to ease traffic, today the Western Express Highway serves as a holding area of millions of vehicles that ply on this 24 by 7!
*So will the Metro ease the traffic problem?
*Says award winning architect who has done more work on Mumbai Metro than anyone else “this is not a transport project, it’s a political project…the chief minister wanted to show he can do what no one else could! Otherwise this Metro Line 7 will serve no one”
*Of the 16 stations that we’re supposed to have been built in this route work has started on only 3
*And even these 3 are incomplete because the amount of land required for each station has not been acquired yet
*The 21 odd acres required for a rail yard to service the line has still not been acquired and no one knows where it will be built
*The land acquired in the heart of the Aarey project will House a huge mufti-storeyed building for the Reliance-MMRDA Metro
*Will it help Mumbai?
As Killawala says “ it will if they build it underground “
*Architect Nitin Killawala further says on line 2B “Even if we accept this route, it does not benefit most of the citizens between the western part of Vile Parle and Bandra. Also there is no connectivity at all to both the airports because of constraints of the elevated metro. Therefore, our request is simple. Construct an underground metro which can be very easily connected to the underground Metro 3 near domestic airport station.”
*Some of the famous institutions and structures that will be affected are Mithibai College, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Podar International School, Sacred Heart Boys School, Sacred Heart Church burial ground, Bohri cemetery, St Theresa School in Santacruz and MM Pupil’s Own School belonging to Khar education society, Khar police station and BMC health centre.
*Transport experts also pointed out that all existing bus stops (approx 60 stops between Andheri and Bandra alone) will have to be displaced and bus services operated by BEST would be totally crippled.
*Killawala added that the project as it stands would disable good roads and add to the existing congestion. “In addition, this route necessitates the construction of monstrous Metro bridges over Western Railway tracks at Bandra, Central Railway tracks at Kurla, flyovers at Chembur, Vakola Nullah, Mithi River and Kurla Terminus”
*So what are we doing?
*Are we building this monstrosity ( which is still an opportunity to make Mumbai a fantastic modern city) to create a catastrophe for ourselves?
Architect Nitin Killawala said, “Even if we accept this route, it does not benefit most of the citizens between the western part of Vile Parle and Bandra. Also there is no connectivity at all to both the airports because of constraints of the elevated metro. Therefore, our request is simple. Construct an underground metro which can be very easily connected to the underground Metro 3 near domestic airport station.”
Some of the famous institutions and structures that will be affected are Mithibai College, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Podar International School, Sacred Heart Boys School, Sacred Heart Church burial ground, Bohri cemetery, St Theresa School in Santacruz and MM Pupil’s Own School belonging to Khar education society, Khar police station and BMC health centre.
Transport experts also pointed out that all existing bus stops (approx 60 stops between Andheri and Bandra alone) will have to be displaced and bus services operated by BEST would be totally crippled. Killawala added that the project as it stands would disable good roads and add to the existing congestion. “In addition, this route necessitates the construction of monstrous Metro bridges over Western Railway tracks at Bandra, Central Railway tracks at Kurla, flyovers at Chembur, Vakola Nullah, Mithi River and Kurla Terminus,”
So what are we doing?
Are we looking at disaster?
Or have all the structural possibilities been worked out?
And we can all go to sleep peacefully?
