Malad-Kandivali residents led by Dr Pranav Kabra want boarding point at Charkop Metro car-shed – approach Metro authorities

MUMBAI: Several residents of the Malad-Malwani-Charkop-Ganesh Nagar, Kandivali area in suburban Mumbai led by Dr Pranav Kabra – who runs the Raksha Multispeciality Hospital at Charkop Naka near the Atharwa College, have written to the Mumbai Metro Authority requesting for a boarding point or Metro Station at the Metro car-shed at Charkop.

According to Dr Pranav Kabra,”The area around the Mith Chowky as well Hindustan Naka Metro Stations is one of the most congested in terms of traffic. Further Malwani and Charkop are among the most polluted (in terms of air pollution) pockets in Mumbai suburbs. If a boarding point or mini-station is set up at the Charkop car-shed area, without entering the actual car-shed premises, hundreds, if not thousands of people living at Malwani, Kharodi, Jankalyan Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Bhoomi Park, Marve and adjoining areas can just walk up to the boarding point at Charkop without having to board a bus or auto rickshaw. Traffic congestion is primarily due to the hundreds of auto rickshaws in the locality and if the Metro boarding point is less than 200 to 300 meters away, hundreds of commuters will just walk across every day. It will greatly reduce the traffic congestion on Link Road, Mith Chowky, Marve Road, Hindustan Naka and further reduce air pollution in the area as the number of autos plying in the area is likely to come down.“

The residents who have formed a group under the guidance of Dr Kabra called Malad-Kandivali Residents Forum have decided to further press for a boarding point or mini station and will even lead a delegation to the Mumbai Metro Authority in the coming days.

“We have sent them an informal email. Let us see what the response is. A group of us will also meet the concerned authorities in the coming days and press for our demand, which is really beneficial for the locality in the coming months and years as the population of the Malwani-Charkop-Kandivli locality is growing at a rapid pace,” Dr Kabra opined.

According to Dr Kabra, more than 5000 to 6000 people from the locality commute towards Andheri West, Oshiwara as well as Borivali and Dahisar on the down line each day. It will greatly benefit these people and help in a myriad of ways but most importantly traffic congestion will be greatly reduced.