Mumbai’s cricket nurseries Oval Maidan and Azad Maidan will not be disturbed by Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-III, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), which is implementing the amibitious project for Maharashtra government, assured the cricket loving community addressing their apprehensions.
“Cricket pitches or matches at the Oval Maidan will not be disturbed during the construction of the Metro-III corridor. However, a few cricket pitches at Azad Maidan will be required to be relocated and the MMRC is working closely with the Sports Department to ensure that majority of the cricketing activity continues at Azad Maidan”, said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).
Ms. Bhide was responding to a campaign by cricket lovers who feared that cricketing activities could be affected by the construction of the project. Oval, Azad Maidan in South Mumbai and Shivaji Park in central Mumbai comprise of the three big cricket grounds on which local Mumbai cricket thrives, and cricket clubs had expressed apprehension that cricketing activities could be affected by the project.
“The entire Oval Maidan is spread over 9 Hectares (90,000 sq.m.) of land and the Metro-III corridor will require, temporarily, just about 0.39 Hectares (3,900 sq m or 4% of the entire Oval ground) towards its north only during the project implementation period of 3 to 4 years and will be restored and returned post construction,” Ms Bhide said in a statement adding “Since the plot required is very small and is towards the northern side of the ground, there is no likelihood of causing any disturbance to the cricketing activity at the Oval.”
“As far as the Azad Maidan is concerned, it admeasures 20 Hectares (two lakh sq m) and the Metro Corridor requires, temporarily, a very small portion of 3.27 Hectares (32,687 sq m or 16% of the entire Azad Maidan). It will restored with better entry and exit facilities,” Ms. Bhide said.
She said a few cricket pitches will be relocated in consultation with the Sports Department. “While only a portion of 32,687 sq m will be used during the construction, the remaining portion of 1,67,313 sq m will be open for cricket and cricket-related activities. Finally, the Corridor will require only 1,000 sq m of Azad Maidan permanently”, said Ms Bhide.
Metro-III project, a 33.5 km long corridor connecting Colaba in South Mumbai to Seepz in western suburbs, will carry 14 lakh daily commuters, and will connect 12 educational institutions, 11 major hospitals, 30 clusters of government and private office districts, and domestic and international airports, the MMRC officials said.
