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Time of India

Thane administration takes possession of land for Metro car depot after resistance from farmers

Mumbai: After months of resistance and stalled progress, the Thane district administration on Friday morning took physical possession of 174 hectares of land at Mogharpada, clearing the path for the construction of the Metro Line 4 (Wadala-Ghatkopar-Kasarvadavali) car depot. The land is now being officially handed over to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Located along Ghodbunder Road, the site was selected for its strategic location to serve Metro-4 with future extensions to Gaimukh, Mira Road, and the upcoming Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan corridor. The depot is critical for operations, but work was stuck due to stiff resistance from 167 local farmers who claimed they cultivated the land for decades. On Friday, police personnel were present to maintain law and order as district officials, accompanied by MMRDA representatives, reached the site and put up signboards marking govt possession. The acquisition process was carried out in the presence of the Additional Collector. The takeover included both legally held and encroached portions of the 174-hectare land. Though the land was officially transferred to MMRDA earlier, actual possession was pending. To break the impasse, the earlier Shinde-Fadnavis govt introduced a Cidco-style compensation model—offering 22.5% of developed land to owners and 12.5% to non-titleholders. Despite this, resistance continued, prompting CM Devendra Fadnavis to direct the district collector to initiate eviction proceedings against those obstructing the project. MMRDA has already awarded the depot construction contract to a joint venture of SEW Infrastructure and Vishwa Samudra Engineering, which emerged as the lowest bidder at Rs 906 crore. The proposed facility will have 64 stabling lines (32 for current operations, 32 for future use), 10 inspection bays, workshop lines, operations control centre, admin blocks, staff quarters, and a substation. Advocate Kishor Divekar, representing the farmers, said compensation must be paid as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, based on prevailing market rates, instead of the outdated Cidco policy offering 22.5% and 12.5% land share in return. The land in question — Survey No. 30, measuring 174 hectares — was under cultivation by 167 tenant farmers since 1960. Farmers alleged that names were removed from land records without due process and that notices were served just hours before the land was taken over under heavy police presence. They clarified they are not against the Metro project but demand fair compensation. The Karmabhoomi Krishi Samanvay Samir, a body of farmers, has warned of launching a mass agitation if the "issue is not resolved lawfully." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .