Centre claims it will pave way for 32-km coastal road project by Aug : The Times of India

Mumbai: Javadekar Says There Will Be No Harm To Nature

The 32-km coastal road project in the city is likely to be off the block soon with the Centre expected to come up with a final notification of approval in August.

Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that the government would finalize the draft and put it on the website in mid-June. “It will be kept open for 60 days to receive suggestions and objections and then in August a final notification will be issued,“ he said.

The minister was talking to the media at Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill, outlining the achievements of PM Narendra Modi's year in power at the Centre. Talking about 84 projects cleared by the Union environment ministry, Javadekar said: “The coastal road is one of the ambitious projects. The government will not allow any commercial activity while the land will be reclaimed for the project.“ Javadekar clarified that the high tide line would not be affected by the project.

“We have cleared the project in such a way that even in future the high tide line cannot be changed,“ he said.“The project will decongest traffic but not damage the environment and it will maintain the ecological balance. It is like this: congestion goes, pollution goes.“

The proposed coastal road between Nariman Point and Kandivli will need reclamation in the sea at a few places like Worli, between Bandra and Juhu and near Kandivli. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray on Monday tweeted thanks to CM Devendra Fadnavis for following up on the Shiv Sena manifesto promise.

Pedder Rd flyover may not be needed

The Union environment

ministry has given the crucial Coastal Regulation Zone clearance for the construction of the 4.2-km-long Pedder Road flyover, but plans for a coastal road may make the project redundant. “Though we have cleared the Pedder Road flyover proposal, it may not be needed if the coastal road project is in place as basically the coastal road is to ease traffic and will serve the purpose,“ Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday.