The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has sought public consultation for the elevated metro 6 (Lokhandwala-Jogeshwari-Vikhroli-Kanjurmarg) corridor.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has sought public consultation for the elevated metro 6 (Lokhandwala-Jogeshwari-Vikhroli-Kanjurmarg) corridor.

Activists have been pushing for an underground metro 6 so that the car shed for metro 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) and metro 6 can be integrated, which would save 33 hectares of green cover in Aarey Colony.

According to the public notice published by the MMRDA, the development body has finalised the terms of reference for the preparation of the Enviro-nmental Impact Assessm-ent report, and has undertaken preparation of the Social Impact Assessment report. The MMRDA will hold the public consultation on May 21 between 11:00 am and 1 pm at the New MMRDA office. However, activists have called out the development body for starting the work on the metro 6 line before any public consultation.

“The work is going on in full swing at the JVLR and Lokhandwala areas. What is the use of holding a public consultation when the alignment has already been finalised? We hope that the MMRDA listens to our objections and suggestions if they are serious about the consultation,” said Zoru Bhathena, a Mumbai-based activist.

For long, environmentalists have been asking for a single integrated car depot for both metro 3 and metro 6 lines.

“If metro 6 becomes underground, then the underground metro 3 can easily connect with the former and the car depot for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line can go to Kanjurmarg. This will save 3,500 more trees and the flood plain of the Mithi River in Aarey,” said Amrita Bhattacharya, a member of the Aarey Conservation Group.