'Govt should keep ego aside, start car shed work at Aarey': Ex-CM Fadnavis on HC's order

Reacting to Bombay High Court's stay order on metro car shed project at Kanjurmarg, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Devendra Fadnavis has remarked that despite being aware of fact that allocated land is 'disputed,' Maharashtra government went ahead with project just to 'satisfy ir ego'. Labelling High Court's decision as a 'huge embarrassment' for Maharashtra government, BJP leader pointed out a report which affirmed that if project is shifted to Kanjurmarg from Aarey, an additional expense of Rs 5000 crores will have to be brunt and completion of metro project will also be delayed until 2024. 

Fadnavis also slammed state's Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray and stated that young politician should refer to reports prepared by expert committees before taking decisions in a haste. 

READ | HC's Mumbai Metro Car Shed Land Order Slap On Govt's Face, Says BJP

'I also presented a report..'

Addressing media on Wednesday, former Maharashtra CM said, "At a time when nearly work amounting Rs 100 crores has already been done, just to satisfy ir ego, y shifted car shed to Kanjurmarg. We apprised m of fact that land in Kanjurmarg is disputed because even we were trying to shift car shed from Aarey." 

"Today, decision by High Court is a huge embarrassment for state government. In clear words, High Court as said, order passed by collector is stayed. It has also stated that state government cant continue with any projects re. I also presented a report prepared by committee formed by present government which says, if depot is shifted to Kanjurmarg, an additional expense of Rs 5000 crores will have to brunt. It also says that metro expected to commence from 2021 will t be ready until 2024," Fadnavis added. 

Apart from Devendra Fadnavis, BJP's Atul Bhatkhalkar also called out Maharashtra government over its decision to shift car shed project to Kanjurmarg. Bhatkhalkar said that Shiv Sena government shifted project with only motive 'to settle a political score' with BJP. Ar BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya demanded resignation of state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, son of CM Uddhav Thackeray, for his insistence to shift project to Kanjurmarg.

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Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed metro car shed project at Kanjurmarg in Mumbai and has asked Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to maintain status quo. Maharashtra Government has agreed to take back its October 15, 2020, order of land allotment to MMRDA for Metro car shed at Kanjurmarg.

High Court on Monday asked Maharashtra government to consider withdrawing an order passed by Mumbai Suburban District Collector allotting 102 acres of saltpan land at Kanjurmarg for construction of a Metro car shed. Centre and Shiv Sena-led MVA government in Maharashtra are locked in a tussle over ownership of land earmarked by state for constructing car depot which was earlier planned at Aarey Colony, a green belt in suburban Goregaon.

Maha Dy CM reacts to HC order

Issuing government's first response to Bombay HC's decision, Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar indicated that state might approach Supreme Court against stay order. Talking to media, NCP leader said that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government's decision to shift car depot project from Aarey Colony to Kanjurmarg seemed to have hurt a lot of people and that is why Centre took an extreme step. "In Constitution and law, re is a provision of making an appeal against a court decision. Hence, it will be thought about," deputy chief minister said.

READ | Maha Govt May Approach SC On HC's Metro Car Shed Order: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar