Public subsidising the motorists

 Government agencies appear to be talking at cross purposes regarding the extension of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, southwards to the NCPA and even possibly beyond to Cuffe Parade.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) believes that the recent relaxation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) laws permits it to build coastal highways on stilts along the coast.

The agency, which has paid a steep bill for the sea link due to delays in completion, hopes to build the 3.5-km-long Worli to Haji Ali stretch for just Rs500 —one-ninth of the original estimate by the sea route.

Northwards, the extension of the sea link has already been planned as a coastal road, over 10 km long, from Bandra to Versova, and will cost Rs1,000 crore, far less than a sea link. The Bandra-Worli Link alone cost Rs1,640 crore, which Reliance Infrastructure is supposed to "purchase" in return for getting to build Worli-Haji Ali.

However, senior officials from the Ministry of Environment in Delhi, who were in Mumbai to discuss the revised CRZ notification guidelines, have informed the government that it will not permit coastal roads because these involve reclamation, not to mention treading over mangroves.

At first glance, coastal roads may be a preferable option for their lower cost and shorter construction period. However, it is at best the lesser of two big mistakes. The fact is that the MSRDC estimated that 70,000-80,000 vehicles were supposed to use the existing sea link daily, but only 40,000 do so. In fact, it wanted to raise the toll, but demurred because it realised that if motorists are reluctant to pay Rs50 one way and Rs75 for a return trip, a higher toll might only deter more.

According to the World Bank, only 4.7% of commuters — broadly, those who have white-collar jobs and use automotive transport —drive to work in Mumbai every day. The mega city used to have the highest proportion in the world of commuters using public transport — 87% — but that has come down to 78% due to over-congested trains and buses. Two-wheelers have been growing and, in the suburbs, auto-rickshaws.

What this means in effect is that the public at large is subsidising the tiny minority of motorists, since the MSRDC's toll take is only half of what it estimated. If, as is planned, there is an 11.7-km-long sea link from Worli to Cuffe Parade, including a tunnel through Priyadarshini Park to Chowpatty, this alone will cost Rs12,000 crore at current prices.

According to experts from the Mumbai Environmental Social Network, who have worked out the total cost of the Nariman Point-Bandra Sea Link, including interest on loans and so on, the toll will cost between Rs300 and Rs500 one way. If people aren't prepared to spend Rs50 on a small stretch, it seems certain that the number will fall, once the toll is over six-fold, particularly for daily commuters. Who, then, will pay for this colossal mistake?

The writer is chairperson, Forum of Environmental Journalists of India