Title - Land use survey gives monorail, Metro infra a miss - The Times of India

MUMBAI: BMC's recently prepared existing land use (ELU) plan, which will form the basis of the Development Plan in 2014, has failed to take into account mapping of Metro lines, Metro stations and hawkers.

The Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), through Right to information (RTI), has obtained the plan, conducted by a BMC-appointed consortium called Groupe SCE India.

According to the survey conducted by the consortium, the area in ELU for Metro and its stations is zero while only 0.2 ha (hectares) has been allocated for rail car sheds. Land for monorail, its stations and car sheds is likewise zero.

Pankaj Joshi, UDRI executive director, in a letter to municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte, has pointed out these discrepancies in the ELU plan.

"It would seem impossible to run Metro or monorail without any land being assigned for the corridors, stations, terminals, garages and sidings. Thousands are going to use the services and the DP will have to effectively consider this. Metro stations will become a vital part of the infrastructure and not mapping them will create a major failure in planning," said Joshi.

UDRI has recommended that the ELU be modified to correctly reflect the land use. "The ELU must demarcate transit zones at Metro, monorail and railway stations and bus terminals so that these areas can be reserved for transport interchange nodes. This will have to be done in consultation with the transport planners and various transport authorities," said Joshi.

The ELU plan also does not indicate the presence of hawkers or congregations of naka workers.

"The complete livelihood pattern needs to be planned so that BMC can provide amenities. The DP process must include a survey of vendors by experts and institutions," said Joshi.