Thane: A citizens’ and experts’ collective, Wake Up Thanekar, has urged the state govt to scrap the proposed Rs 12,200-crore Thane Ring Metro, claiming a Rs 2,000-crore public transport overhaul centred on electric buses, dedicated bus lanes and smart traffic management would deliver faster, cheaper and more effective relief from the city’s worsening traffic congestion.In a representation to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, the group proposed a 10-point mobility plan that includes frequent 20-30-seater electric buses on a ring route linking Thane station, Teen Haath Naka, Majiwada and Ghodbunder, dedicated bus lanes during peak hours, GPS-enabled e-rickshaw hubs, AI-powered traffic signals, public cycle-sharing, barrier-free footpaths and skywalks, ferry services across Thane Creek and app-based shuttle services.“The Ring Metro is an expensive and unnecessary solution that could subject Thane citizens to nearly a decade of construction disruption without guaranteeing relief from traffic congestion,” echoed activist Dayanand Nene and NCP (SP) Thane president Manoj Pradhan.The group claimed its alternative could be implemented for under Rs 2,000 crore, potentially saving the state and Thane Municipal Corporation more than Rs 10,000 crore while strengthening the city’s existing transport network.The Wake Up Thanekar group has also sought a halt to the metro proposal until a high-level committee comprising transport experts, urban planners and citizens’ representatives evaluates alternative mobility solutions.Senior urban planning expert Sulakshana Mahajan claimed the project would benefit only 32% of the population.Activist Unmesh Bagwe, representing another group of alert citizens, suggested roping in IIT or VJTI experts to analyse the project; if the costs and impacts outweigh its benefits, govt should scrap the project altogether, he said.“Infrastructure projects do not mean development but is achieved by making daily life easier for citizens,” said former Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay Oka in the presence of nuclear physicist Dr Anil Kakodkar at a citizen-interaction event recently.
