Coastal roads are where the future is. Bye, bye sea links. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told dna that his government is all for coastal roads, and sea links have dropped off the radar.
Coastal roads are where the future is. Bye, bye sea links. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told dna that his government is all for coastal roads, and sea links have dropped off the radar.
What it means immediately is that all proposed extensions from the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link will be junked for Coastal Freeway that will help in eventually forming a Ring Road on the periphery of Mumbai.
In fact, Fadnavis said that in so many words. Proposed sea links from Worli to Haji Ali and Bandra to Versova will be scrapped, he said.
For starters, a coastal road is a freeway and sea link is toll-based.
The proposed 35.6-km-long coastal road will connect Nariman Point and Kandivali. Once it's completed, travel time between the two points will come down to 45 minutes from the two hours it take now.
The likely extension of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link coastal road will be on either sides. On the northern end, it may be extended to Vasai-Virar, and on the southern end, to the Eastern Freeway near CST. No time-frame has been set for the same, though.
This Ring Road will be complete with plans of another Freeway on Ghodbunder Road in Thane, which connects to Eastern Express Highway that leads to Ghatkopar.
Fadnavis told dna the logic behind his government's current thinking. "Sea links will be toll-based and very expensive. A sea link would cost around Rs 25,000 crore, while coastal road is much cheaper at Rs 9,000 crore," he said.
The Union government is also ready to allow coastal roads, he said. A portion of funds generated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation from fungible FSI (see box) will be used for constructing coastal roads.
Fadnavis said that there was no need to consider both coastal roads and sea links as there will be duplication of resources and financial implications.
"We are not thinking of a Worli-Haji Ali Sea Link. We are in favour of a coastal road with a metro rail on it," said Fadnavis.
Prakash Javadekar, union minister of state (independent) for environment, forests and climate change, had also inspected the alignment of the proposed coastal road and was "very keen" on it. The project would be approved by the Centre soon, Fadnavis said.
"In my opinion, (the actual work on the coastal road) will begin six months after the Centre's approval," Fadnavis said.
The cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure will also be re-constituted this week.
At the moment, the Eastern Freeway is complete between CST and Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road.
The other sea link – the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link – proposed on the eastern coast of Mumbai between Sewri and Nhava remains unchanged.
What is fungible FSI
Fungible means that which is inter-changeable. Imagine you are buying a flat. Developers will charge you for ornamental space like lobby, lift space, flower beds, balconies etc. They were not sharing this money with the government earlier. They were called free-of-FSI component. Now, the government has made it fungible FSI, thus charging a premium from developers for the ornamental space. The money so collected from fungible FSI will be exclusively used for coastal road construction.
SCRAPPED SEA LINKS
Nariman Point-Haji Ali Sea Link
Worli-Haji Ali Sea Link
Versova-Bandra Sea Link
TRAVEL TIME
NOW: Over 2 Hours
FUTURE: Within 45 Minutes
STEPS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION
1) Amendment in CRZ Notification
2) Preparation of Detailed Project Report
3) Environmental Impact Studies
4) CRZ Clearance
5) Preparation of Detailed Plans & Estimates
6) Bid process
7) Actual Implementation
8) Completion & Maintenance
COST: Rs9,000 crore (Can be reduced by Rs1,000 crore if tunnel between NCPA-Princess Street is removed)
LENGTH: 35.6 km
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: BMC
FUNDS: Through Fungible FSI. Annual target of Rs 2,000 crore.
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