Maharashtra to seek Centre's nod for Rs 8,500-cr coastal road project

Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority says no real estate project will come up in reclaimed area for the road connecting Nariman Point with Kandivli

The Maharashtra government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will have to launch a massive exercise to reclaim about 110 hectares for the Rs 8,500-crore coastal road connecting Nariman Point in south Mumbai and Kandivli in north Mumbai. The 35.6-km road will run parallel to the coast and it will have about 22 exit and entry points. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) had approved BMC’s proposal last week with a rider that the reclaimed land would not be used for real estate development and commercial purpose; it would be used for only road, open spaces and cycle track.

An MCZMA official told Business Standard: “According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification issued in 2011, bridges on tilt or pillar were permitted in the sea and there was no provision for coastal road through reclamation. It will need amendments to the CRZ notification whereby land will be reclaimed for coastal road.”

The official said upon MCZMA’s accepting the BMC proposal, the Centre would issue a draft notification seeking suggestions and objections. Thereafter, a final notification would be released, which would pave way for the commencement of development work.

BMC’s Additional Commissioner S V R Srinivas said BMC had given an undertaking to MCZMA that it would not allow any real estate project in the reclaimed area; it would be maintained as public open spaces. “Existing high-tide line will not be altered,” he said, adding that a detailed report was being prepared by STUP Consultants.

According to state government and BMC officials, the reclamation exercise for the coastal road would be the third major reclamation after that of Backbay and Bandra carried out in the past. About 500 hectares of land was reclaimed between Cuffe Parade and Nariman Point in south Mumbai for Backbay reclamation, while about 100 hectares of land was reclaimed for Bandra for real estate development.

“Since reclamation is for public purposes, subject to taking care of environmental issues, we should allow it. It should design to promote/encourage non-motorised modes of transport and disallow any real estate development. This will be a major greenfield transport project unlike earlier flyovers and over-the-sea bridges. So, its contribution to smoothening traffic will be significant. To that extent, it would reduce the burden on existing routes/railways,” said Vishwas Udgirkar, senior director, Deloitte.

Among those who oppose the project is Debi Goenka, executive trustee and founder of Conservation Action Trust. According to him, the project will result in destruction of mangroves, which will be in violation of the Environment Protection Act. “The environment impact will be the same for road or railway. The coastal road will not help solve the Mumbai’s traffic problem,” he said.

Fishermen’s union leader Damodar Tandel said the coastal road should not hamper the fishing folks’ colonies on the coast and that it should not adversely affect fishing in general.