There is a possibility of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) not disturbing the century-old Parsi fire temple at Princess Street near Dhobi Talao during the construction of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro rail.
By Ateeq Shaikh| DNA India
According to a senior development authority official, Kalbadevi, as well as south Mumbai as a whole, will remain a challenging area to carry out construction of the underground metro rail due to the density of the structures as well as number of heritage buildings in the area from where the metro rail will pass.
“We will not do anything to the fire temple in Kalbadevi,” said an official. When informed that the detailed project report prepared by Rites mentions that a portion of fire temple will have to be acquired to have ancillary facilities, such as chiller plant and ventilation shaft, the official replied, “We are yet to finalise the plan. It will be done after the general consultants submit their report, that is why there is scope to make changes.”
The acquisition of the land is required for the underground metro rail to create entry and exit as well as for ancillary facilities at the metro stations.
The Parsi community has been upset with the MMRDA ever since finding out that the detailed project report prepared in November 2011 states acquiring part of the property of the Atash Behram.
At the moment, MMRDA officials have been scrutinising pre-qualification bids they received on March 10. The plan is to issue tenders for the Rs23,136-crore project in July this year followed by commencement of construction in early 2015.