Locals question Kasheli metro depot filling with tunnel rock, allege favour to MMRDA contractor
Residents allege debris from the Manpada-Borivali twin tunnel is being dumped at the Metro Line 5 depot, and ask who approved it; MMRDA says rock use alone does not make the depot unsafe.
Local residents have made serious allegations over the filling work at the metro car depot being built at Kasheli under Metro Line 5. They say debris and rock from the excavation of the Manpada-Borivali twin tunnel are being dumped to fill the Kasheli depot site.
Residents ask why MMRDA is showing such leniency to the contractor when a tender worth hundreds of crores of rupees has been issued. They also say that if the matter is investigated in depth, influential people could be caught up in it.
People are asking who approved the use of this rock in the depot. Whether its quality and technical suitability have been checked is also being questioned.
According to information from MMRDA, the contract of about Rs 589.56 crore for building the Kasheli metro depot has been awarded to Ritvik Projects Pvt. Ltd. The contract also covers roads and drainage work.
As per the available project report, Rs 12.31 crore has been set aside for earthwork and excavation. Rs 35.39 crore is provided for soil filling. Rs 16.67 crore has been earmarked for laying a protective layer of stone and sand over the main soil fill.
Residents have put several questions to MMRDA: who permitted tunnel rock to be dumped at the Kasheli depot, how much rock has been brought in so far, how much has been spent on transporting and using it, and how much has been paid to the contractor to date. The answers, they say, will make clear whether the tunnel rock has been used according to approved standards only once official documents and technical reports are made public.
According to MMRDA, the Kasheli depot is being built on about 27 hectares. Given the muddy creek soil here, a new technique is being used to prevent the ground from sinking and to strengthen it. IIT Bombay is also assisting.
For this reason, residents demand clear information on the quality of the rock used in the filling, the compaction of the soil and the technical approvals.
MMRDA has also said that the use of rock alone does not mean the depot is unsafe. It said material testing, soil investigation, compaction reports and geotechnical certification must be examined.
