Metro Rail Project: BMC, MMRDA yet to decide on rehabilitation of PAPs
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25/07/2008
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Indian Express (Mumbai)
Mumbai, July 24 Even as the construction of first metro rail between Versova and Ghatkopar via Andheri is under way, the displaced shop owners and tenants at the J P Road in Andheri are still breathing nervously due to the "vagueness' on their rehabilitation.
The Metro Rail Project Affected Persons Action Committee (MRPAPAC), an organisation formed by the PAPs to "fight for the cause' of the displaced, demanded rehabilitation of as many as 278 displaced shopkeepers. "The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is unclear about the rehabilitation policy for the displaced people at the J P Road. They are asking us to shift to Oshiwara though they had promised to relocate us to Andheri market. We should be relocated within the vicinity of our existing commercial establishments and we need a permanent place in the proposed mall,' said Pratap Ankolekar, working committee member of the organisation.
Meanwhile, the MMRDA which is the implementation agency of the Metro rail project said the PAPs would be relocated to the proposed mall on S V Road in Andheri. "The relocation to Oshiwara tenements is temporary, but eventually every PAP would be relocated to the proposed mall,' said Dilip Kawathkar, Joint Project Director (Public Relations), MMRDA.
Earlier, another body formed by the PAPs at the J P Road had protested against the unclear rehabilitation plan of the MMRDA.
According to Ankolekar, the PAPs are uncertain about the proposed mall. "Both the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and MMRDA are at loggerheads on the issue of construction of the mall,' Ankolekar said.
According to a senior MMRDA official, the solution to this issue is expected to be delayed as the BMC, which owns the Andheri market, is still not decided whether it will construct the mall or give the land to the MMRDA for development. The official said, "The BMC still has to decide whether it will construct the mall. Earlier, it was keen to hand over the land to the MMRDA, but subsequently they are contemplating to develop it by themselves.'