Thane’s internal circular metro project came under scrutiny at a meeting between elected representatives, Thane Municipal Corporation officials and MahaMetro on Friday, with questions raised about rehabilitation, land acquisition, route planning and the number of families likely to be displaced.
The meeting was held at Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters after MahaMetro managing director Shravan Hardikar presented details of the proposed project to representatives. The project is being developed through the civic body and MahaMetro to address congestion on Thane’s internal roads.
Representatives said the administration had not yet provided clarity on the structures affected by the proposed alignment, the rehabilitation plan or the land required for the project. They said the project was not necessarily being opposed, but residents likely to be affected needed clear information about where they would be relocated and what assistance would be provided.
According to information presented by MahaMetro, around 70% of the land required for the approximately 30-kilometre route is available. Land acquisition for the depot is under way. Officials also said efforts were being made to minimise the project’s impact on defence land.
Hardikar said between 1,400 and 1,500 families could be affected by the project. However, when asked for the official number, he said the final figure had not yet been determined. The number would be established after surveys and biometric verification of affected residents, according to the report.
The proposed rehabilitation locations discussed at the meeting included the Lokmanya Nagar, Azad Nagar and Manorama Nagar areas, where rehabilitation could be attempted through cluster redevelopment. Representatives questioned how rehabilitation could be planned when several cluster redevelopment projects had not yet received construction permissions.
Najeeb Mulla asked whether the survey of affected residents had been completed if the number of displaced families remained uncertain. MLA Sanjay Kelkar said a survey and a clear rehabilitation plan should be prepared before the necessary project permissions were secured. He also called for residents to be informed about the project and the proposed relocation arrangements.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said completing the Thane metro project was necessary, but additional care was required in densely populated areas such as Lokmanya Nagar. He said an underground route should be considered in locations where displacement would be extensive.
Other questions concerned the project’s wider connectivity. MahaMetro said the planned metro would connect Kalwa, Mumbra and Diva, while preparation of a detailed project report for that extension was under way. Officials also said the route was being planned to connect with the bullet train project.
MLA Jitendra Awhad asked when metro services would reach Kalwa and Mumbra and said the rehabilitation issue needed serious attention as Thane’s population continued to grow. He also questioned whether the project was being implemented for the benefit of a particular developer, an allegation not substantiated in the report.
Municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao said land acquisition required for the project was the responsibility of the municipal corporation and was being expedited. He added that the final list of affected residents would be prepared soon.
