India, March 4 -- Citing the need for better connectivity between the Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports, the state government on February 24 sanctioned the Metro 8 line connecting the two. The project will also have a car shed close to the interstate bus terminal. However, environmentalists and activists have raised a red flag, given the proposed site of the shed: on 27.2 hectares of reserved forest (mangrove) land at Mandale.

The government resolution issued by the urban development department states that approval has been granted for the transfer of this land. CIDCO officials said the plot was next to Metro 2B's Mandale car depot.

Earlier environmentally unfriendly decisions for metro car sheds have been staunchly opposed by activists a...