BMC panel moots 35.6km coastal road

A committee headed by Brihanmumbai Municipal commissioner (BMC) Subodh Kumar submitted the plan of a 35.6km road between Nariman Point and Kandivli, which runs parallel to the coast. The plan, termed as the dream project of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, is expected to be tagged as a national project and will cost Rs8,000 crore. The committee submitted its report to CM Chavan on Tuesday at the Mantralaya.

With the stretch extending up to the end of the western suburbs, the proposed second phase of the Worli-Haji Ali Sea Link is likely to be scrapped by the government.

The road will take off at the Manora Guest house, opposite the Mantralaya and tread through a tunnel between the NCPA and the Air India building. The Queen’s Necklace may have two more lanes to accommodate more traffic up to Raj Bhavan.

Of the 35km, nearly 8km of the road will be a reclaimed land, which will be reserved as a green zone, banning construction work. An officer from the urban development said that the reclaimed road will have public parks and sitting zones. “There would be 18 exit and entry points on the coastal road,” he added.

The state government would demand 50% funding from the central government, while rest of the funds would be raised by the state government. “There would be no private participation in the project and hence no toll charges on the road. The government may think of including the project in the National Project list,” the official said.

“The committee chalked out its plan in accordance to the CRZ regulations and has consulted the ministry of the environment and forest.”

When asked about the fate of the proposed sea link between Worli and Haji Ali, chairman of the committee and BMC commissioner Kumar said, “This will be decided by the government. Likewise, the decision about the source of funding has to be taken by the government.”