Citizen groups on Friday reiterated their demand for the Metro 2B corridor from DN Nagar to Mandale to be built underground citing fire safety concerns.
As part of the Go Underground campaign, JVPD Association, Gulmohar Area Societies Welfare Group and H-West Ward Citizens Trust have filed public interest litigations in the High Court.
Nitin Killawala, a convener of the campaign, said elevated metro corridors and the Metro 1 corridor flout crucial fire safety norms prescribed by the Mumbai Fire Bridge as many stations will be perilously close to existing structures. He said, “Fire safety guidelines stipulate having a six-metre open space in front of each building in order to facilitate fire fighting. In the existing Metro corridor that has come up as well as the ones that are coming up, several stations will be flouting this basic norm.” Mr. Killawala added that the buildings close to the stations will be at risk.
The Bombay High Court has granted a stay on the construction of the Metro 2B corridor and has permitted the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to conduct soil testing and survey for utilities. Mr. Killawala said Metro systems should be built underground as they provide more scope for expansion and cost nearly the same.