The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to drop its controversial plan to build a metro car depot for Metro Line 9 at Uttan-Dongri after sustained opposition from local residents and environmental groups. The decision marks a shift in approach by the authority, which has faced repeated challenges over land acquisition and ecological concerns for infrastructure projects across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The shelved plan had proposed developing a 59.65-hectare depot complex on a hillock at Uttan-Dongri, meant to serve the 11.38-km Metro 9 corridor connecting Dahisar East with Mira-Bhayandar. Residents and activists had opposed the move, citing threats to local livelihoods, agricultural land, and over 11,000 trees. In response, MMRDA officials confirmed that the rakes for Metro 9 will now be housed at the existing Charkop car depot, which currently services Metro Lines 2A and 7. An MMRDA official stated that the authority “respected public sentiment and prioritised environmental concerns” while revisiting its depot plan. The official added that the authority has nearly finalised an alternative strategy for managing car depots across upcoming metro corridors, ensuring operational efficiency without encroaching on sensitive ecological zones.
Originally announced in 2016, the Metro 9 project has faced multiple delays due to protests and land acquisition hurdles. The earlier plan for a depot on 32 hectares in Bhayandar was abandoned in 2019 following similar resistance. The Uttan-Dongri site—though technically suitable—became the centre of protests earlier this year after residents alleged that the depot would endanger the area’s ecosystem. Public demonstrations intensified after the local municipal body approved the felling of over 1,400 trees on World Environment Day, sparking widespread criticism. The ₹733.24-crore construction contract, previously awarded to a private joint venture, will now be terminated. The proposed facility had included an operations control centre, a 690-metre test track, and extensive stabling and workshop areas. Officials noted that the decision to shelve the project aligns with the state’s commitment to sustainable urban development and participatory planning.
The government aims to open the first operational section of Metro 9—from Dahisar East to Kashigaon—by December 2025. Trial runs are already underway using trains brought from Charkop. For future expansions, MMRDA is planning depots at Kanjurmarg for Line 6 and at Mogharpada on Ghodbunder Road for Lines 4 and 4A. Urban planners view the move as a positive precedent for integrating environmental and social considerations into large-scale transit planning—an approach critical for achieving Mumbai’s long-term vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable urban future.
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