Fate of Rs 8,500 cr Mumbai coastal road project to be decided on June 8

Centre-state at loggerheads over amendment of law

The Centre and the Maharashtra government would on Monday decide on granting environment clearance for the 35-km coastal road connecting south and north Mumbai.

The Centre wanted the state government to enact a law to ensure reclamation of sea would be done for the road and no real estate development would be allowed.

However, the state government had argued the Centre amend the Coastal Zone Regulations-2011 and, thereafter, approve the Rs 8,500-crore coastal road project through an executive order.

The 35-km coastal road will connect South Mumbai and Kandivali in North Mumbai. 

The project was conceived by the Congress-NCP government after it decided to drop the extension of the Bandra Worli sea link project up to Haji Ali. 

After the assembly elections held last year, the BJP-led government decided to pursue the project. The coastal road project is part of the Rs 60,000 crore transport infrastructure projects being undertaken by the state government.

A government official, who is associated with the coastal road project development, told Business Standard, "The Centre has been quite cooperative and it is expected that a positive outcome is possible during the proposed meeting between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the union minister of state for environment and forests Prakash Javadekar slated for June 8.'' 

The official admitted that the Centre wants legal safeguards so that land sharks don't exploit the situation. He added that the state government has made it clear that the reclaimed land will not be used for commerical purposes.

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation has already prepared a project plan and the civic body is expected to  kick start  development early next year after the approval.

Fadnavis recently announced that the coastal road project will be completed in two years once the construction starts.