Centre asks Maharashtra govt to stop work on Kanjurmarg metro car shed

The Maharashtra government had in October announced to shift the controversial proposed metro car shed to Kanjurmarg in order to save the forests in the Aarey Colony area. The BJP had, however, slammed the decision saying that it will discourage investors and infrastructure projects in the state.

Mumbai (Maharashtra):The central government has sent notice to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar to stop work on the Kanjurmarg car shed for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro 3 project as the government has claimed ownership of the Kanjurmarg land. It has further said that the site is in their possession.

It has suggested stopping the work and reversing the decision of the car shed. Speaking to ETV Bharat, the Chief Secretary confirmed the news. "We have received a letter from the Centre and we will reply to it soon," Sanjay Kumar told ETV Bharat.

Car Shed Controversy:

The tussle has been ongoing since 2014 after Aarey was identified as the location for the car-shed. Aarey is 1,800-plus acres of green space in suburban Goregaon, which is home to many species of flora and fauna. The fresh controversy started when Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) decided to build a car shed on 33 acres of land in Aarey forest for 33.5 km of Metro 3 route and decided to cut trees in order to make way for the project. However, environmentalists and tribals opposed the move and began a battle against the construction of car shed. Eventually, their struggle was successful after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray decided to move the Aarey car shed to Kanjurmarg. Accordingly, the implementation of this decision began.

Despite the opposition from environmentalists and the support from Shiv Sena for this decision, the BJP was in no mood to budge. In 2014, the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had even started the work on the project, even though the Kanjurmarg option was suggested.

After Uddhav Thackeray moved the car shed to Kanjur, there was a big conflict between BJP and Shiv Sena. Fadnavis alleged that since Uddhav Thackeray decided out of ego, it will cause a loss of Rs 4,000 crore.

Car-shed amidst controversy:

The car shed dispute of Metro 3 seemed to end after the car shed was moved to Kanjur but politics started and the construction work has come to a standstill. Now, there will be a direct struggle between the Center and the state government and the project is likely to be stalled due to the power games.

The Kanjur land is now claimed by the Central government. The Union Ministry of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPP) has sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of the state claiming that the land belongs to him. The letter also called for a halt to the work. However, Sanjay Kumar declined to comment on this.

Thackeray government lying, claims BJP:

The Thackeray government is lying in the Kanjur car shed issue in order to hide its inefficiencies and to divert the attention of the people as it has done nothing for the state till now. "I examined the RTI report of 2015 and it is signed by the then Commissioner of Mumbai, Ajoy Mehta, in which it is written that this place is unsuitable", said Kirit Somaiya.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Supriya Sule lashed out at the Center for interfering in the development of Maharashtra state and said that Modi is sinning by taking away all the rights of the state.