Fire temples will not be affected by Metro work, VJTI tells high court

Mumbai:

A report by an independent team of structural engineering experts appointed by the Bombay high court has concluded that the proposed tunnelling work for Mumbai Metro 3 will not adversely affect the structural stability of the two Atash Behrams in south Mumbai or well water.


The VJTI, in a 19-page report, concluded that the “proposed tunnelling work (using TBMs) for Metro 3, under Wadiaji and Anjuman Atash Behram buildings shall not have adverse effect on the structures’’ and that it will also not adversely impact the “level and quality of water in wells within the premises of both Atash Behrams”. It said neither construction of the Kalbadevi metro station adjacent to Wadiaji Atash Behram nor Metro operations under them will have an adverse impact on the structures.

But the report recommends measures “to have additional safety”. It says that “excavation for cut and cover at Kalbadevi station near the corner of Wadiaji Atash Behram shall be carried out only by drilling line holes up to bottom for the plan area of 3 by 3 metre”. Further excavation shall be by either “mechanical means’’ or “control blasting’’. The “perforation” will further

reduce vibrations on the Atash Behrams.

The report by KK Sangle, Abhay Bambole and head of structural engineering department, VB Deshmukh, of VJTI was submitted to the HC bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla on August 9 in a petition by structural engineer Jamshed Sukhadwalla and several other members of the Parsi community. The petitioners had first raised objections in May to the proposed tunnelling and alignment of the underground Metro 3 route as it goes below the consecrated highest grade fire at these two, more than century-old heritage Atash Behrams near Princess Street in south Mumbai. The petitioners also said that the proposed Kalbadevi station was a mere 5m away from Wadiaji Atash Behram and they apprehended damage from ‘control blasting’ to make the station.

The HC, while continuing a stay on tunnelling work beyond walls of the Atash Behrams last month, appointed VJTI to survey the site and submit a report as the MMRCL produced no independent report to back its contention that the tunnelling would cause no harm to the structures.

The high court is scheduled to hear the matter on August 13.