Mumbai: The state government has handed over yet another chunk of open land in the city for the construction of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro III underground line. This time it is 11,000 sq m or almost three acres of the landmark Mahalaxmi race course land. The 226-acre race course is one of the few sprawling open spaces left in the island city and the move may anger local resident associations and environmentalists.
However, government sources said most of this land will be handed back when construction is completed and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), which is executing the project, will retain only 2,400 sq m or little over half an acre for a traction substation.
MMRC requires public land on temporary and permanent basis all along the metro’s alignment for traction substations, passenger stations and areas to launch tunnel boring machines to bu ild a 32.5-km underground tunnel across the length of the city.
A senior MMRC official said the move will not impact the horse races or the jogging track.”The portion of the land is under no use at present.” The Royal Western India Turf Club manages the race course but its lease for the land has lapsed and it is now under negotiation with the government. The club claimed that it was not aware of the development. Its media adviser Vivek Jain said, “We are not aware about the location of the land that has been allotted as nobody has informed us. Ideally, the government should have told us as the lease is under negotiations.”
The MMRC official said, “The lease has expired and RWITC is no longer in possession of the land. There is no need for them to be informed as the government owns the land.”