A vital land parcel near Bansdroni Metro station, earmarked for a power substation, has been unlawfully occupied by shanties, shops, two-wheeler parking and a bus stand. Metro officials report that local vested interests are obstructing clearance efforts, obstructing urgent work that is critical to improving grid reliability and sustainable urban transit infrastructure.
The 4,000-square-metre plot outside Gate 2 of Masterda Surya Sen Metro station lies close to a key electrification project: a substation to receive power from the city utility before distributing it along the metro corridor. Metro general manager and senior officials recently inspected the site and confirmed repeated efforts to reclaim the land have been unsuccessful. Metro authorities attribute the stalling to local influential individuals whose vested interests in the informal economy bus parking, shops and shanties have stalled attempts to initiate construction.
While notice boards affixed to the site assert metro ownership, enforcement remains pending. Historically, the NSC Bose Road stretch has accommodated the 205 bus route between Bansdroni and Babughat via Park Street. Residents explain that vehicle parking on NSC Bose Road previously narrowed traffic lanes, prompting Metro’s decision to host bus stops and two-wheeler parking off-site. Informal stalls replaced planned infrastructure, highlighting challenges between transit growth and livelihood in green cities.
A notice was served to occupants in March, declaring the land as Metro property and instructing vacating within seven days. These socioeconomic dimensions complicate Metro’s push to recover the land. Officials say they have enlisted support from local administration and police. The Netaji Nagar police jurisdiction covers the area, and Metro says talks are ongoing with civic leadership to reach an agreeable resolution, though no arrests or evictions have taken place.
Complexities arise from the underlying conflict: delivering sustainable infrastructure while respecting informal settlements and livelihoods. Experts in equitable urban development say each eviction attempt risks displacing low-income residents with no social safety net. Instead, they suggest Metro and municipal agencies should explore interim strategies. Shelters, relocation subsidies, and ongoing livelihood support during substation construction could foster equitable outcomes.
Metro officials indicate that they aim to align the implementation of informal-sector rights with execution of critical infrastructure projects. A “land recovery plan” is under development to structure an amicable exit strategy, relocating affected users nearby. Discussions with municipal departments aim to integrate community needs, balancing Metro’s infrastructural imperatives with social equity.
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