MUMBAI:
The civic body wants to hear your views on the ambitious coastal road project.
After the environment ministry gave its nod to the state government to construct the 35.6-km coastal road, aimed at improving connectivity between south Mumbai and the suburbs, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing a detail plan report of the freeway. Once completed, it will be opened up for public hearing.
“The environment assessment impact will be conducted and studied after the plan is finalised, and then we will open it for public hearing. All aspects need to be considered before the construction, including citizens’ and experts’ opinions,” said a senior civic official.
The project will connect Nariman Point to Kandivli, through a road running along the coast till the western suburbs. However, ever since a joint technical committee report was submitted in 2011, the plan has been mired in controversy over its likely environmental impact.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said: “The road will include 10kms of underground tunnels at two locations – beginning from Nariman Point to Priyadarshni Park and another from Juhu to Versova beach. We have decided to construct the tunnels in the sea, as against the original plan to build them under the beaches.” The move was decided upon after objections from environmentalists.
The coastal road will also include 22 interchanges – entry and exit points – and lanes dedicated to the Bus Rapid Transit System ( BRTS), so that the stretch can serve modes of mass transport too.
“The project will include the rehabilitation of some residents living near the interchanging points,” officials said.
Open space of up to 225acres will be made available on the land reclaimed for the project. A long, green patch will run alongside the coastal road. “Our aim is to limit mangrove destruction as much as possible,” the official said.
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