Govt to give Aarey land to BEST to develop depot, road links.

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse recently said the government would hand over a major portion of the 7,500 sq m of land occupied by the dairy development department in Aarey to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) for development of a depot and roads

There are 27 hamlets spread across this area and the new infrastructure would drastically reduce travel time for the locals. In return, BEST would help in the development of Dapchari in Thane where the government plans to set up a new dairy and cattle sheds. ‘Save Aarey’ group is already campaigning to save the 2,298 trees slated to be axed to make way for the car shed for the Metro Phase III line.

Politicians cutting across party lines have rallied behind the group to save the city’s last existing green lung. Forced by the growing opposition, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had on March 2 constituted an expert panel to study alternative sites for the car shed project, failing which it will suggest steps to ensure transplantation of trees.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS