Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has suggested the Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) give them the above land of the underground stretch of the four-kilometre of Metro 11 (Wadala GPO) corridor if they are unable to pay them the cash, said an official. The suggestion has come following the port trust conveyed that they do not have money to agree with the authority’s cost-sharing condition.
The MbPT wants the four-kilometre stretch of Metro 11 corridor to be taken underground when it passes via the eastern waterfront. Considering their demand, the MMRDA undertaking the project has asked them to bear the additional cost. The official stated, “Only if the authority pays the additional cost then only the demand could be fulfilled.
Besides this, if they do not have money then they can give us the above land of their ownership, where this four-km stretch would be passing. If MbPT agrees for same, then we plan to construct buildings and earn money by renting the commercial units.” The estimated cost to take the four-kilometre stretch would be Rs 2, 000 crore as reported. A senior MbPT official on request of confidentiality confirmed the MMRDA’s made suggestions.
However, he also replied, “In both the ways we are in loss. The underground corridor has been demanded since we do not want to lose the land and MbPT has plans to develop the eastern coast. While as per MMRDA’s demand if we do not give them cash they want a land.We are mulling on some alternative plans to settle the issue amicably.”
The Metro 11 corridor between Wadala and CST, measuring 14-km is an extension of Wadala-Thane Metro 4 corridor that is being constructed. The extension of Metro-4 towards south Mumbai is known as Metro-11 for which detailed project report (DPR) approved by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in November 2018.
The underground portion is proposed near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) at the eastern waterfront that is being controlled by the MbPT. The port trust wanted an underground corridor as it did not want to sacrifice the development potential of its land. An over-ground metro would mean viaducts and stations occupying the prime MbPT land, heavily restricting MbPT plans.