Decks cleared for Metro IV car shed land at Thane

THANE: The initial decks for constructing a car shed for Metro IV route at Ghodbunder road in Thane have been cleared as the administration and project-affected residents have finally come to a consensus over the long-pending land acquisition and compensation issues, officials informed on Wednesday.
Over 100 acres of class II government land at Mogharpada village was required to construct the shed which was stiffly opposed by 167 residents who staked their claim saying they were tilling the land for the last several decades and would be rendered without livelihood if it was acquired without compensating them.The locals had previously thwarted all attempts to survey the land by the administration demanding an adequate compensation package be finalised before.
Accordingly, a delegation of residents led by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik met the revenue officials at the Thane collector office on Wednesday. Sarnaik said the administration has agreed to consider the demands of the residents including bringing them on government record and ensuring a proper compensation package along with access to employment at the car shed project in the future.
“We also demanded surplus land at the site beyond what is required for the car shed and a park to be equally distributed among the residents and the same (except those in eco-sensitive zone) to be clear of all reservations and remain classified for residential purpose only which has been okayed at the local level,” said Sarnaik.
It is learnt the MMRDA that required a huge cache of land for construction of the shed was insistent on this stretch as it was government-owned and developing it would attract minimal resistance and expenses. Earlier, the car shed was to be developed at Owale but was shifted following local opposition.