Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) would set up the car depot for the proposed 33.5 km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro corridor in an environment friendly manner, UPS Madan, Commissioner of the authority said.

The authority would prepare a plan for the construction of the metro depot to ensure that it does not have a negative impact on the environment. The depot would be built on a 30 hectare land in Aarey Colony, which has a substantial green cover. Biodiversity in the area would not be affected by the project, MMRDA said.

MMRDA would replant trees, which will have to be removed to make way for the depot, he said. MMRDA would set up the metro rail corridor fully underground.

The 12 sqm Aarey colony, which houses many species of animals including leopards, acts as buffer zone for the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.  

Before handing the land to MMRDA, the collector of Mumbai Suburban district would survey the plot according to a direction from the state revenue department.

The consultants of MMRDA appointed an expert team to carry out the environmental study of the plot. According to the report, the construction of the depot will not impact the biodiversity in surrounding areas, a source from the authority is quoted as saying in a media.