Mumbai Metro-6 Project Overcomes Land Issues For Kanjurmarg Depot, MMRDA Begins Primary Surveying Work

The initial steps have been taken towards the construction of the proposed Kanjurmarg depot for Metro-6, which will cover an area of 15 hectares.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started surveying and marking the boundaries of the land. According to an MMRDA official, the area will be gradually fenced off, reports Hindustan Times.

The Metro Line-6 corridor is planned to run between Swami Samarth Nagar-Jogeshwari-Vikhroli-Kanjurmarg.

The construction of the Kanjurmarg depot has progressed following a recent dispute with the Salt Commissioner's office, which claimed ownership of the land.

However, the MMRDA has maintained that the plot of land falls under the jurisdiction of the state government, and there are presently no legal obstacles to its use for the depot.

The state government had earlier directed Mumbai’s suburban collector to hand over the plot for the depot construction.

When asked about the land issues, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “The land at Kanjurmarg is important for the Metro 6 project and there are no issues with it. Our government will ensure that public money is not wasted due to delays”.

Delays For The Construction Of Car Depot

The plot has been a subject of dispute for four years due to conflicting claims of land ownership by multiple government and private entities.

In addition, the former state government had initially intended to construct an integrated car depot for three metro lines namely — Line-3, 4, and 6 — after facing resistance for the Metro-3 depot construction at Aarey Colony.

However, the Eknath Shinde-led government later reversed the decision and resumed the Metro-3 depot construction at Aarey Colony's original site.

Further, Metro Line-4 — planned between Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavli — will now have its depot in Mogharpada along Ghodbunder Road, as per reports.

The depot yet remained under dispute, with the Salt Commissioner objecting to the plan of acquiring 102 hectares of the Kanjurmarg land.

However, on 10 May, the CM made it clear that the land allocated by the Maharashtra government at Kanjurmarg was important for the project and has no issues with it.

The construction of metro depot will potentially ensure the completion of the corridor

The overall Metro Line-6 is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 6,700 crore, with a target to complete in next couple of years.

Earlier, the MMRDA officials shared that the corridor has reached 66 per cent completion.

The 15.3-km-long line will provide an important east- west connectivity stretch for the suburban commuters.

The link will be integrated with four other metro routes. This includes the already operational lines of Mumbai Metro – Line 2A and Line-7.  

Additionally, the network will be interconnected to the in-progress, fully underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro Line 3, and Line-4 connecting Wadala to Kasardavali.