Aarey in Danger? Shinde-Fadnavis’s decision after taking charge

Nagpur: A few hours after taking over charge as Maharashtra chief minister, Eknath Shinde and Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis have decided to reverse the Uddhav Thackeray government’s stand on the Aarey metro shed project in Mumbai.

As per sources, it has been learnt that Shinde directed Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to submit in court that the metro car shed will be built at Aarey Colony as planned in 2019 by the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government.

The issue saw massive protests by residents of the Aarey colony in Mumbai back in 2019 when the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation sought Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) permission to fell trees in the colony, damaging Mumbai’s green lungs.

Protests were witnessed at several parts of the country after BMC gave a nod for the project. After the assembly polls later that year, Maha Vikas Aghadi government was formed headed by Uddhav Thackeray who stayed the decision of demolishing the colony.

Soon after the controversial decision taken by newly-sworn in chief minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya tweeted that it will bring the Mumbai metro work back on track.