Urban News

According to the TMC officials, the MMRDA had suggested that the alignment start from Teen Haath naka as well as Thane station. If MMRDA faces any problem with Thane station or Kopri, the monorail can be started from Teen Haath naka and later be extended to Thane station till the Kopri Bridge is completed. From Teen Haath naka, the monorail will enter the congested parts of the city like the Hariniwas Circle, Meenatai Thackeray Chowk and Uthalsar. It will further cross the Eastern Express highway towards Bhiwandi and Kalyan.

“The existing alignment would be passing through congested parts of the city where we have planned projects to improve infrastructure. If the proposed monorail alignment is implemented, then the existing traffic woes would not be solved and the problem would further aggravate. The present alignment is such that it won’t help the Thaneities, but commuters from Bhiwandi and Kalyan,” said Thane mayor Ashok Vaity. “Instead, the alignment should enter the city through Wagle estate, which is less congested and has wider roads comparatively.”

Pandurang Patil, Shiv Sena corporator from Kopri, also the leader of the house in the TMC, said, “Even if the MMRDA starts the monorail from Teen Haath naka, then commuters have to go to the station and the project would be futile. This would also mean further congestion of Teen Haath naka. Instead, the MMRDA should build the monorail terminal on a railway plot at Kopri. The terminal at Kopri should be connected to the Thane station with a skywalk.” However, sources in the railways said that land would be used for fifth and sixth line and creating stabling lines as per MUTP work.

“The monorail should have connectivity with the station. We are open to suggestions and MMRDA won’t do any project without the approval of the local body (TMC),” said Joint Metropolitan Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. The issue will come for discussion in a special general body meeting expected to be held in the first week of May.