While people are still protesting over tree felling at Aarey Colony, the MMRDA has now planned to build a 32-storey Metro Bhavan at Aarey. The Metro Bhavan will be an operation and control centre for the Mumbai Metro. The Metro Bhavan will also have commercial spaces that would be leased out.
According to Hindustan Times, the Maharashtra government last month granted a special tag of special planning authority (SPA) to MMRDA, to speed up five Metro projects. The special tag will give MMRDA to take possession of land parcels spread over 73 hectares in Mumbai and Thane.
Pravin Darade, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA told the leading daily, “We are working on the plan to construct the Metro Bhavan, an operation, and control centre. The plot size is over 5.03 acre, and with the floor space index (FSI) of four, we plan to construct an iconic 32-storey building.” The proposed area for Metro Bhavan is near Seepz where a number of commercial establishments are already located. MMRDA has appointed a consultant to prepare a detailed project report for it.