Thane Residents Rally Online Against Metro Route Realignment
Residents of the Hiranandani Estate locality in Thane have initiated a vigorous online campaign to voice their deep concerns regarding a sudden and unannounced modification to the alignment of the Thane internal ring metro project. This revised route now cuts directly through their residential area, sparking fears of significant inconvenience and disruption to daily life.
Lack of Consultation Sparks Outrage
The community claims that authorities, including the project executor MahaMetro based in Nagpur, failed to consult local residents or their elected representatives before implementing this last-minute change. The issue came to light recently when geotechnical surveys for Phase I, stretching from Vijay Nagari to Patlipada, commenced. Residents were taken aback on Wednesday upon discovering barricades being erected, indicating the metro would now traverse their neighborhood instead of the previously understood path.
"We were shocked to see barricades being put up in our area as we were sure the metro was to take a different route and not cut through our locality," expressed one resident. In response, alert citizens quickly mobilized, deciding to build substantial support before formally approaching the authorities with their grievances.
Rapid Mobilization and Key Concerns
Within an impressive 48-hour window, over 700 residents have endorsed the online campaign, highlighting several critical issues. Primary concerns include potential traffic disruptions and increased congestion on internal roads, risks associated with prolonged construction activities, and adverse environmental impacts. The campaign strongly questions the transparency surrounding such significant alterations and appeals for the restoration of the original metro alignment to mitigate these problems.
A statement issued by the Residents of Hiranandani Estate and Rodas Enclave, facilitated by local resident Anubha Sahai on Thursday, emphasized, "We support development, but it must ensure public safety, environmental balance, and community well-being." This sentiment underscores the community's stance that progress should not come at the expense of resident welfare.
Engagement with Authorities
In addition to the digital campaign, residents have proactively reached out to local elected representatives, including BJP corporator Manohar Dumbare, seeking his intervention to address the matter. Meanwhile, MahaMetro officials have acknowledged that surveys are currently underway and confirmed that slight route modifications were planned at certain locations. They assured that details specific to the Estate route would be provided promptly.
An official stated, "We will interact with residents soon. Any modification done is only to improve the project efficiency," indicating a willingness to engage in dialogue. However, residents remain vigilant, calling for concrete actions to ensure their voices are heard and considered in the planning process.
