Metro 3 car shed project temporarily put on hold

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the proposed Metro 3 car shed project at Aarey Colony has been temporarily put on hold and a committee has been set up on shifting the project away from the colony.

The government has also proposed three alternate locations to relocate the project from Aarey colony, city's green belt.

Fadnavis, while replying to a query during the Question Hour, informed the Legislative Council that a total of 2,298 trees will have to be felled for the proposed car shed, of which 2,044 trees will be replanted.

"The Tree Authority has suggested that of 2,044, 800 trees can be planted in the same area and the rest somewhere else. Remaining, 254 trees cannot be planted," Fadnavis informed the House.

He, however, conceded that people residing in the area are against the construction of the Metro car shed and said that all efforts are being made to shift the project to a more suitable place.

"I'm aware of people's sentiments. They do not want green spaces to be hacked. Respecting people's sentiments, we have constituted a committee that is seeing if this project can be shifted somewhere else. We will take a final decision based on their report," Fadnavis said.

"We have even proposed three alternate places for this project and the committee has also been asked to suggest more suitable places," he said.

Fadnavis also said no decision regarding not requiring to take forest department's permission to undertake infrastructure projects can be taken by the government.