MMRDA Acquires 430 Acres in Thane for Mumbai's Largest Metro Depot.

In a significant boost to Mumbai's expanding metro network, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has successfully acquired approximately 430 acres of land in the Mogarpada area of Thane district. This substantial land parcel is earmarked for the construction of what will become Mumbai's largest integrated metro depot.

This crucial facility is designed to serve as the primary operational and maintenance hub for four vital metro corridors: Lines 4, 4A, 10, and 11. These lines collectively span a vast network of nearly 56 kilometers, connecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Mira Road, and are expected to significantly enhance urban mobility across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. According to The Economic Times, this acquisition is pivotal in providing the necessary infrastructure for a central metro hub.

Farmer-Centric Rehabilitation and Transparent Process

The land acquisition process was guided by a comprehensive rehabilitation framework, developed by the MMRDA to address the concerns of affected landowners and residents. This framework aligns with the established land acquisition principles previously implemented by the City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO).

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the acquisition as a "landmark development for Mumbai’s metro network," emphasizing that this milestone "accelerates our goal of expanding sustainable, multimodal transport infrastructure that meets the aspirations of New Maharashtra."

Deputy Chief Minister and MMRDA Chairman Eknath Shinde further affirmed the commitment to fair and transparent development. "With transparent land acquisition, farmer-centric rehabilitation and future-ready engineering, we are delivering infrastructure that transforms lives while preparing Maharashtra for the next-generation of urban transit," Shinde stated.

Under the rehabilitation plan, leaseholder farmers whose land was acquired will receive 22.5 percent of their original land area as developed plots, while encroachers will be allocated 12.5 percent. A meticulously planned master layout for these rehabilitated plots includes 18-meter-wide access roads and 12-meter-wide internal roads. The MMRDA has committed to delivering these developed plots within a stringent 36-month timeline.

Extensive public consultations were conducted earlier this year, chaired by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and the Thane District Collector. Officials confirmed that these sessions, held in January and February, effectively addressed farmers' concerns, culminating in the issuance of 198 offer letters, distributed to 167 leaseholders and 31 encroachers.