Over 1,000 Residents Sign Petition at Pokhran Road

Thane, August 30, 2026: Opposition to the proposed Thane Integral Ring Metro project is gaining momentum in Thane, with more than 1,000 residents signing a petition against the project during a campaign held at Pokhran Road No. 2 on Sunday. The citizens’ forum ‘Thane Against Integral Ring Metro’ organised the campaign, highlighting concerns over traffic congestion, environmental damage and the use of public funds.

Traffic congestion is a major concern

One of the key reasons locals are opposing the Integral Ring Metro is the fear that construction activity and the proposed alignment could worsen traffic congestion in already busy parts of Thane. Residents argue that instead of easing existing traffic problems, the Integral Ring Metro could create additional bottlenecks during construction and put further pressure on the city’s roads.

Concern over loss of trees and green spaces

Environmental concerns are another major factor behind the opposition to the Thane Integral Ring Metro. Residents fear that the project could require the cutting of thousands of trees, potentially affecting Thane’s remaining green cover. Protesters have questioned whether the environmental cost of the Thane Integral Ring Metro is justified and have called for greater consideration of its impact on trees and green spaces.

Residents question the need for the project

Locals are also questioning the necessity and feasibility of the Thane Integral Ring Metro project. According to the organisers, Thane has several pressing civic and infrastructure issues that require immediate attention, and residents believe public resources should be directed towards addressing these problems before undertaking a project they consider unnecessary.

Fear of public money being wasted

The financial implications of the Thane Integral Ring Metro are another major point of concern for residents. Protesters have described the proposed project as a potential waste of taxpayers’ money and are demanding greater transparency over its cost, feasibility and expected benefits.

“More than 1,000 citizens signing the petition at Pokhran Road today clearly shows that Thane residents do not want the Thane Integral Ring Metro. This project is a waste of taxpayers’ money and a threat to our green environment,” said organiser Advocate Radhika Rane.

Residents want their concerns heard

The signature campaign was organised by Advocate Radhika Rane and Aadesh Mehrotra, who said the strong participation reflected growing public opposition to the Thane Integral Ring Metro. The organisers have urged the administration to consult citizens and consider their objections before moving ahead with the project.

“Instead of addressing the basic problems faced by Thane residents, this unnecessary project is being imposed on us. The administration should recognise this clear opposition from citizens and immediately stop the Thane Integral Ring Metro project. If the authorities ignore this democratic warning, the citizens’ movement will be intensified in the coming days,” said organiser Aadesh Mehrotra.

For residents opposing the Thane Integral Ring Metro, the issue is therefore not simply about a new transportation project. Their concerns centre on whether the project will actually improve mobility, what its environmental cost will be, how it will affect traffic during construction and whether the expenditure of public money can be justified.

The campaign at Pokhran Road No. 2 has now brought these concerns into sharper focus, with the organisers maintaining that the signatures collected will serve as a representation of residents’ opposition to the Thane Integral Ring Metro project.