Delay Likely In Mumbai Metro Line-5 Launch As Villagers Protest Against Land Acquisition

In a move that might delay the construction of the Mumbai Metro Line-5, which would connect areas in Thane and beyond, with the main city, over 100 villagers are protesting the land acquisition for the construction a car shed under the project. Last year, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had sent notices to the residents for the acquisition of around 36 hectares land at Govegaon near the Kalyan-Bhiwandi road. The villagers say this land is their only source of livelihood and can't be sold.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Metro Line-5 of the Mumbai Metro in December last year after the project was approved in October 2017. The project is expected to be completed by 2022.

All About Metro Line-5

Length: The total length of the corridor is 24.9 kilometre. It will have 17 stations, namely Kalyan APMC, Kalyan railway station, Sahajanand Chowk, Durgadi Fort, Kongaon, Govegaon MIDC, Rajnouli Village, Temghar, Gopal Nagar, Bhiwandi, Dhamankar Naka, Anjur Phata, Purna, Kalher, Kasheli, Balkum Naka and Kapurbawdi.

Interchange facility: The Kapurbawdi Junction is linked to the Metro Line-5 that connects Wadala to Kasarvadavli via Ghatkopar and Mulund. 

Features: Developed as an elevated corridor with advanced features of the Mumbai Metro system, the corridor would carry trains of six coaches with an estimated ridership of 2.29 lakh by 2021 and 3.34 lakh by 2031.

Cost: The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 8,416 crore. 

Conceptualisation

Around a decade ago, the MMRDA considered plans for a monorail corridor along the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan under its MRTS project. The plan could not be realised owing to issues like low ridership and proposed land use plans.

The present route of Line-5 has been finalised which links the outskirts rather than passing through the crowded city areas. The Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation had asked for rerouting the project to include the congested areas in Thane for better connectivity. Metro Projects for Line-5 and Line-6 (Swami Samarth Nagar - Jogeshwari - Vikhroli - Kanjurmarg) have received CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). Line-5 crosses CRZ areas at two points - one at Kasheli bridge along Ulhas river and another near Durgadi Fort.

Impact on real estate 

Once this Metro link begins operation, those commuting between Mumbai and Thane regions will have access to an advanced public transport and reach Mumbai quickly. The project, along with Line-6, will help realise the objective of the state government to create a circular the Metro route in Thane city and integrating it with the Mumbai Metro network.

A promising infrastructure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Mumbai Metro Line-5 will pass through several thriving industrial belts. Increase in employment opportunities, emergence of growth centres including Nilje, Bhiwandi and Kalyan and corresponding rise in housing demand will be the possible impact of this project. In fact, demand for a better infrastructure is growing in these pockets that are urbanising at a fast rate owing to influx of people from middle and high-income groups. The MMRDA is contemplating acquisition of 1,000 hectares of land under the Town Planning Scheme.