Bandra

Juhu

Metro2B

Javed Akhtar

Mumbai

underground metro

Around 5000 residents fromandcame out on the streets in a last ditch effort on Friday, to protest for their long standing demand for an undergroundline, which will run from DN Nagar in Andheri to Mandale in Mankhurd via Bandra. Residents also vowed to take it up as a key issue during the upcoming 2019 elections, with more than 10 lakh affected residents, a potential votebank, pledging to exercise NOTA (none of the above) if their demand is not accepted by the government.There was some celebrity turnout on Friday to make up for the missing numbers who added weight to their campaign. Actresses Mousumi Chatterjee and Raveena Tandon, and poet-cum-lyricistturned up at Sacred Heart School on SV Road in Santacruz to pledge their support.A huge turnout was witnessed at the Bandra Masjid after the 1:30 pm namaaz where residents formed a human chain with banners. Other places where residents protested were near Seasons in Santacruz (West) and Pawan Hans in Juhu.Akhtar dropped in last at Sacred Heart school at 3 pm and addressed the crowd."Bureaucrats who live in Southhave underground metro. This "not in my backyard" policy won't do. Their excuse that they cannot affordfor western suburbs will not be acceptable," he said.Dr Bhupendra Awasthi, Director, Surya hospital said,"DN Nagar has broad roads. But SV Road and Khira Nagar roads are so narrow. I have over 200 patients catering to women and children. I will have to shut down my hospital, if the metro trains run from above the road."Some of the famous institutions and structures that will be affected are Mithibai College, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Podar International School, Sacred Heart Boys School, Sacred Heart Church burial ground, Bohri cemetery, St Theresa School in Santacruz and MM Pupil’s Own School belonging to Khar Education Society, Khar police station and BMC health centre.