Mumbai Metro: MMRDA Faces Land Acquisition Challenges For Metro 6 Expansion

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is facing significant hurdles in acquiring land essential for expanding Metro 6 beyond the Kanjurmarg depot.

To realise this expansion, MMRDA needs to secure over 3,000 square metres of railway land for stations and girders along the route. Efforts are underway, with expectations of forest clearance for a 1,798-square-metre plot by July 2024. However, challenges persist at five key locations, including Jogeshwari, Powai (near IIT Bombay), Kanjurmarg, EEH, and Saki Vihar.

The agency is actively pursuing private land acquisition at Ghaswala Compound in Jogeshwari West, among other locations. Efforts also include relocating high-tension power lines at Saki Vihar station.

An MMRDA official stated, "All land acquisition discussions are at an advanced stage," noting ongoing efforts to secure forest clearance for the 1,798-square-metre private land at the junction of Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and EEH. The forest clearance process is expected to conclude by July 2024, reports Hindustan Times.

For construction at IIT station, MMRDA requires land from MTNL, while proposals are pending for land at Kanjurmarg station. The agency aims to secure additional land for allied activities related to the Kanjurmarg Depot construction, which commenced in April 2023.

An approved contractor is tasked with depot construction, encompassing various aspects such as boundary walls, workshops, and stabling lines, with a budget of Rs 509 crore. Additionally, plans are in place to lay girders over railway lines, with final design approvals expected by October for implementation.

The 16-kilometre elevated line of Metro 6 will traverse the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, connecting Vikhroli to Lokhandwala and intersecting above railway tracks on both Central Railway and Western Railway.