Fadnavis, Uddhav to revive war over Aarey car shed?

Mumbai: The location of car sheds for Mumbai’s upcoming Metro network has become a fresh flashpoint between the newly-installed Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. Mumbai’s green activists Aarey Conservation Group vowed to revive the movement to Save Aarey Forest. After taking the oath of office on Thursday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis held their first cabinet meeting at the Mantralaya. They directed the state advocate general to prepare a legal strategy to shift the controversial car shed from Kanjurmarg in central suburbs back to its original location of Aarey Milk Colony in western suburbs.

Though no formal cabinet decision was announced, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray came out strongly against the move to shift the metro car shed. “I request you with folded hands not to direct your anger against me in Mumbai. Please do not play with Mumbai’s environment. There was no ego in the proposal to move the car shed to Kanjurmarg. Please do not pursue a car shed at Aarey,” Thackeray said at a press conference. He added, “One night, the trees were chopped in Aarey. After I became the CM, I suggested the Kanjurmarg alternative. I am with the environmentalists and the environment. The land at Kanjurmarg belongs to Maharashtra, and it should be used for Mumbai’s benefit. A car shed at Kanjurmarg could help Metro lines reach Balapur-Ambernath (far eastern suburbs),” said Thackeray, who received strong support from Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that while he respects Uddhav Thackeray’s request, the car shed at Aarey Colony can be completed faster. “Metro project construction is happening at a faster rate. But, without a car shed, the network cannot become functional. Around 25% of the car shed work at Aarey is already complete, and the rest can be completed quickly. Even if the Kanjurmarg land is available, it will take at least four years for the car shed to be operational there,” he said.