Thane Ring Metro Project Faces Backlash Over Planning and Environmental Issues
Citizens, experts oppose Thane Ring Metro project, cite planning flaws
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
Citizens and experts in Thane, Maharashtra, are opposing the ₹12,200 crore Integrated Ring Metro project, citing planning flaws and environmental concerns. They demand an independent review and suspension of ongoing works.
- 01The Integrated Ring Metro project is budgeted at ₹12,200 crore.
- 02Critics label the project a 'colossal waste of public money' due to planning flaws.
- 03The project overlaps with existing Metro lines, creating route redundancies.
- 04Projected ridership of 28,000 by 2050 is deemed unviable for heavy metro systems.
- 05Environmental concerns include the potential felling of 3,224 trees and threats to the Thane Creek mangrove ecosystem.
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In Thane, Maharashtra, citizens and urban transport experts are expressing strong opposition to the ₹12,200 crore Integrated Ring Metro project, citing serious planning and environmental flaws. Activists from Citizens for Sustainable Transport and the Thane Green Collective have called for an immediate halt to the project, demanding an independent review. They criticize the 29-km route for creating redundancies by overlapping with existing Metro lines and failing to serve densely populated areas such as Kalwa, Mumbra, and Diva, which have a combined population of 27 lakh. Urbanist Sulakshana Mahajan described the route as resembling an 'amoeba' rather than a circular ring. Concerns are also raised about the projected ridership of 28,000 passengers by 2050, which is below the necessary benchmark for heavy metro systems. Additionally, environmental issues have emerged, with the local authority marking 3,224 trees for felling, significantly more than the 662 stated in the project's detailed report. Activists warn of potential harm to the Thane Creek mangrove ecosystem and anticipated traffic disruptions during construction.
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The project could lead to significant environmental degradation and traffic disruptions in Thane during construction.
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