Will coastal road plan hit heritage barrier : The Times of India

Mumbai:



A big roadblock for the proposed 33.2km coastal road from Nariman Point to Kandivli is a row of 17 heritage and religious structures that dot the path. Like Parsi Gymkhana, Police Gymkhana ground, Wilson College and Haji Ali to name a few.

While some architects said that the project will not have a direct impact on these structures, but it would surely impact them from an “aesthetic point of view“.

While the closest structure would stand 15metres from the coastal road, the farthest of these is located 330 metres away . The civic body made public a draft of the detailed project report on Wednesday .

Heritage conservationist David Cardoz said that while the coastal road project may not have any direct impact on the structures, aesthetically it would have a huge effect on its look . “A sunset which can now be seen directly from any structure will get obstructed by a road if it comes up 15-200 metres away from the structure,“ said Cardoz. “Though this may sound like a feeble argument, that's the beauty of a heritage structure which needs to be embraced.“

He added that there may not be any Grade 1 heritage structure along the path of the coastal road project, sites like Haji Ali dargah which fall in II-A category are of great importance.

Most heritage and religious structures like Parsi Gymkhana, Islam Gymkhana, Mahalaxmi Temple come either in Grade II-A, II-B, III cate gory . Grade II (A and B) comprises buildings and precincts which contribute to the image and identity of the region.Grade III comprises those that evoke architectural, aesthetic, or sociological interest.

Aravind Unni, architect, said that the city has always had a relationship with its waterfront. “With this proposed project, this relationship of Mumbaikars is likely to be altered. Heritage structures mean a lot to residents; they are cultural landmarks. A motorway cutting from the sea may not be the best view.“

Pay toll to use route by the sea

Despite talk that no toll will be collected on the coastal road, the detailed project report mentions that toll collected from vehicles using the facility is the principal income for the project over the years. BMC officials were not available to comment on it. TNN