SETBACK FOR MVA GOVT AS HC ORDERS STAY ON MUMBAI METRO CAR SHED PROJECT

MUMBAI: In a setback to the Maharashtra government, the Bombay High Court asked the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to hold the construction of Mumbai Metro car shed at Kanjurmarg. The Bombay High Court stayed the construction of the car shed due to ongoing ownership tussle between Centre and the Maharashtra government over the land allotted to MMRDA.

The Union government has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the 1 October 2020 order passed by the Collector allotting the land for construction of the car shed, and said the land belongs to the Centre’s salt department. The Maharashtra government, however, opposed the plea and said that the land, allotted to the MMRDA for the metro car shed, is owned by the state.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G.S. Kulkarni was of prima facie opinion that the Collector should give a fresh hearing to all parties concerned and settle issues related to land title ownership. “We cannot allow this order (Collector’s order) to remain in force. Prima facie, we are of the view that the matter should go back to the Collector. Consider withdrawing it (the order). It is better you (the government) settle all these issues before you proceed further,” the court said.

The erstwhile BJP-led government had decided to construct the car shed, part of Mumbai Metro line 3, at Aarey Colony despite opposition from environmentalists and activists who campaigned against cutting of a large number of trees for the project. The present Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, led by the Shiv Sena and supported by the NCP and the Congress, on assuming office in November last year, decided to shift the car shed from Aarey Colony to Kanjurmarg.

The salt pan land at Kanjurmarg has become a bone of serious contention between the Maharashtra government and the Centre.