Mumbai Shelves Uttan Dongri Metro 9 Depot After Massive Public Protests And Environmental Outcry

In a major shift responding to local resistance and environmental concerns, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to shelve its proposal to construct a Metro 9 car depot at Uttan-Dongri. The move marks a rare instance of civic activism influencing large-scale transport infrastructure decisions in Mumbai’s expanding metro network.

The authority confirmed that, instead of Uttan-Dongri, Metro 9 rakes will now be housed temporarily at the Charkop depot, which currently services Metro lines 2A and 7. Once the Mandale car depot under Line 2 is commissioned, it will handle additional operations, easing pressure on Charkop.A senior MMRDA official said the decision was taken after “serious consideration of local objections and ecological sensitivity in the region.” The agency is redrawing its depot strategy for the Dahisar–Mira Bhayandar corridor, ensuring that infrastructure growth aligns with environmental and community interests.

The Metro 9 project, first announced in 2016, has faced repeated delays due to disputes over depot locations and land acquisition challenges. The authority had earlier identified a 32-hectare site across Rai, Morva, and Murdha villages, which was met with strong resistance from farmers fearing livelihood loss. The subsequent Uttan-Dongri proposal, covering nearly 60 hectares of hilly terrain, triggered fresh protests in mid-2024 over tree felling and habitat damage.In June this year, residents staged demonstrations after the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation approved the removal of more than 1,400 trees from the proposed site ironically, on World Environment Day. The unrest led MMRDA to pause all vegetation clearance and reconsider its plans.

The ₹733-crore construction contract, awarded to a joint venture between Rithwik Projects and Soma Enterprise, will now be terminated. The shelved design had included a control centre, test tracks, workshops, substations, and stabling lines for over 35 trains.Residents and environmental advocates have hailed the move as a “victory for sustainable planning.” One local community representative said the decision “proves that public participation can drive more ecologically responsible infrastructure outcomes.”

Experts suggest that the MMRDA’s decision could set a precedent for other infrastructure agencies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to adopt more inclusive, sustainability-driven planning approaches. “Balancing mobility expansion with environmental safeguards is essential for urban resilience,” noted an urban planner.The Maharashtra government still aims to operationalise the Dahisar East–Kashigaon stretch of Metro 9 by December, with trains currently undergoing trial runs via Charkop. Meanwhile, future depot plans are being redirected to Kanjurmarg for Metro 6 and Mogharpada for Metro lines 4 and 4A  signalling a broader shift towards decentralised, less ecologically intrusive depot sites.

Mumbai Shelves Uttan Dongri Metro 9 Depot After Massive Public Protests And Environmental Outcry