Table of Contents
Residents have questioned the move and the lack of prior consultation, public notice, or information provided to them.
The relocation also threatens to encroach on Sadhu Vaswani Garden, a popular open space in the area.
Reasons for the Relocation
According to an MMRDA official, the relocation was necessary due to the presence of a 3.2-diameter sewer line, making it difficult to lay the foundation at the original location.
The other alternative would be to scrap the station entirely, which would inconvenience a lot of commuters.
Despite this, the MMRDA has assured residents that they will do their best to prevent any damage to the garden patch.
Residents’ Concerns
Residents have expressed concerns that the relocation of the Metro station to a busy junction in S V Road, Bandra, outside Dr. Shroff Eye Hospital, will have disastrous consequences for the area.
They fear the H P Junction in Bandra will become a bigger traffic nightmare, with the influx of hawkers, share autos and taxis, illegal parking, commercial encroachment, and squatters that typically crop up around metro stations.
These issues have occurred at each and every Metro station that has come up in Mumbai until now, without exception.
Furthermore, they fear that the relocation will destroy the only open green space they have in the area.
The Residents’ Actions
Residents of the area have been vocal about their opposition to the relocation, with several protests and a letter to local BJP MLA Ashish Shelar expressing their concerns.
Shelar himself has met with the chief minister over the issue, and residents are hopeful that their concerns will be addressed.
However, they remain vigilant, with activist Zoru Bhathena filing an RTI query seeking details about the MMRDA plans, as residents were not officially consulted over the matter.
The MMRDA must strike a balance between development and preserving green spaces, ensuring that Mumbai continues to be a livable city for all its residents.
Bandra West’s Varde Marg Residents’ Association has expressed dissatisfaction with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) decision to relocate one of the Metro 2B stations originally planned near National College towards Tata Blocks.
Residents have questioned the move and the lack of prior consultation, public notice, or information provided to them.
The relocation also threatens to encroach on Sadhu Vaswani Garden, a popular open space in the area.
Reasons for the Relocation
According to an MMRDA official, the relocation was necessary due to the presence of a 3.2-diameter sewer line, making it difficult to lay the foundation at the original location.
The other alternative would be to scrap the station entirely, which would inconvenience a lot of commuters.
Despite this, the MMRDA has assured residents that they will do their best to prevent any damage to the garden patch.
Residents’ Concerns
Residents have expressed concerns that the relocation of the Metro station to a busy junction in S V Road, Bandra, outside Dr. Shroff Eye Hospital, will have disastrous consequences for the area.
They fear the H P Junction in Bandra will become a bigger traffic nightmare, with the influx of hawkers, share autos and taxis, illegal parking, commercial encroachment, and squatters that typically crop up around metro stations.
These issues have occurred at each and every Metro station that has come up in Mumbai until now, without exception.
Furthermore, they fear that the relocation will destroy the only open green space they have in the area.
The Residents’ Actions
Residents of the area have been vocal about their opposition to the relocation, with several protests and a letter to local BJP MLA Ashish Shelar expressing their concerns.
Shelar himself has met with the chief minister over the issue, and residents are hopeful that their concerns will be addressed.
However, they remain vigilant, with activist Zoru Bhathena filing an RTI query seeking details about the MMRDA plans, as residents were not officially consulted over the matter.
The MMRDA must strike a balance between development and preserving green spaces, ensuring that Mumbai continues to be a livable city for all its residents.