Questions over rehabilitation, land acquisition and the route plan for Thane’s internal circular metro project dominated a meeting between elected representatives, Thane Municipal Corporation officials and MahaMetro on Friday, as authorities acknowledged that the final number of affected families has not yet been established.
The meeting was held at Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters to present details of the metro project, which is being developed by the civic body and MahaMetro to address congestion on roads within Thane city. MahaMetro managing director Shravan Hardikar made the presentation in the presence of Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MP Naresh Mhaske, MLAs Jitendra Awhad, Sanjay Kelkar and Niranjan Davkhare, among others.
Representatives questioned the administration about buildings and properties falling along the proposed alignment, the status of surveys, land acquisition and the rehabilitation of residents who could be displaced. Several participants said the project itself was not being opposed, but demanded clarity on where affected residents would be relocated and what assistance would be provided to them.
According to information presented by MahaMetro, around 70% of the land required for the approximately 30-kilometre route is currently available. Land acquisition for the project depot is under way. Officials also said efforts were being made to minimise the project’s impact on defence land.
MahaMetro estimated that between 1,400 and 1,500 families could be affected by the project. However, Hardikar clarified that the official figure had not been finalised. The final number will be determined after surveys and biometric verification of affected residents, according to the report.
The lack of a confirmed list led to further questions during the meeting. Representatives asked whether the survey had been completed and how rehabilitation could be planned when several proposed cluster redevelopment projects in Lokmanya Nagar, Azad Nagar and Manorama Nagar had not yet received construction permissions. Kelkar said a clear survey and rehabilitation plan should be in place before project permissions were secured.
Sarnaik said the metro project should be completed but stressed that its impact on densely populated areas such as Lokmanya Nagar needed to be carefully considered. He suggested examining underground construction in locations where displacement would be substantial. Awhad also raised the question of when metro connectivity would be extended to Kalwa and Mumbra and alleged that the project could be serving the interests of a developer, a claim not established in the report.
MahaMetro said the proposed system would connect Kalwa, Mumbra and Diva, with a detailed project report for the extension being prepared. The planning is also intended to provide a connection to the bullet train system, officials said.
Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao said land acquisition, which is the civic body’s responsibility, was being expedited. He added that a final list of affected residents would be prepared soon.
