The divide between liberals and the orthodox in the Parsi community seems to have visibly reduced, considering the large number of people attending a gathering at Patkar Hall in Marine Lines last evening. Last morning, the group of petitioners praying to the Bombay High Court to not allow any part of the Metro III underground tunnel to go from under either of the two Atash Behrams (Wadiaji and Anjuman) met with MMRCL authorities at their site office, as earlier instructed by the HC.

Earlier this week, MMRCL had provided the group with documents regarding the tunnelling, as requested by the latter, after which this meeting was held. According to advocate Zerick Dastur, a petitioner, the meeting with Metro rail directors was "positive". The meeting was attended by solicitor Berjis Desai, Zerick and his legal team, Wadiaji Atash Behram trustees Hosi Dastur and Farokh Kavarana, structural expert Jamshed Sukhadwala, architect Jehanbux Billimoria, High Priests Cyrus Dastur and Khurshed Dastur, Ervads Dr Rooyintan Peer, Dr Parvez Bajan and Burjor Antia, solicitor Homiar Vakil, Ratan Patel, Behruz Irani and a team (Karl Wadia) representing architect Hafeez Contractor. Those representing MMRCL were Ashwini Bhide, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta, state finance secretary U P S Madan and former bureaucrat Rahul Asthana among others.