Politicians to Vacate Offices affecting Mumbai Metro Route

Mumbai, Jan 17 (IANS) All political parties in Maharashtra have agreed to shift their offices and establishments falling on the Mumbai Metro corridor route near Nariman Point in Mumbai, officials said here Saturday.

Eight political parties, as well as 26 government departments, which responded to a notice from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, have consented to shift their offices to alternative locations by April 30.

"It was heartening to receive such positive response from the political parties...Now the entire construction of the metro-three corridor, Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ will be completed speedily and with precision," said Ashwini Bhide, managing director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL).

The outcome, at a meeting headed by Additional Chief Secretary Sumit Mallick, will pave the way for the smooth construction of the proposed Vidhan Bhavan Metro Station, officials said.

The MMRCL has suggested alternative locations like MTNL, BSNL, Mumbai Port Trust and World Trade Centre, Mumbai to accommodate the government offices and the parties.

They all agreed to survey the suggested sites - most of them located a considerable distance away from the state headquarters, Mantralaya - and relocate after examining all aspects by April 20.

However, party representatives pointed out that since it was mainly the common people who visited them , it would be advisable to relocate them somewhere near the Mantralaya for convenience.

They would submit a proposal to the government and request a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to find a solution.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party, Republican Party of India, Shetkari Kamgar Party and Shiv Sena, and representatives of 14 out of the 26 affected government offices.

A majority of the political parties are located in old barracks which have been converted to swank offices with receptions, conference rooms, cabins for top officials and other facilities.