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Pedder Road residents use other flyovers but don't want one in their area

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Those residing in buildings parallel to JJ Flyover too do not want Pedder Road flyover to come up as they are of the opinion that it will only worsen traffic and pollution. But those, who want the Pedder Road bridge to cut short commute time, are not happy with the opposition to it because they believe Pedder Road residents themselves do not hesitate driving over other flyovers in city, and yet are against the same in their backyard.

"Our roads are not broad enough to have flyovers. Not only in Pedder Road, but also elsewhere in city, there should not be any bridges, it only worsens the situation," said Faisal Akhai, a professor and resident of Tauhid Mansion near Zakaria Masjid along JJ Flyover.

For Akhai and hundreds of other families, the bridge will bring a host of woes, right from increased sound and air pollution to ventilation issue, they say.

But Borivli resident Sumukh Divecha, who travels daily to south Mumbai and wants the bridge to come up, said, "During rush hour, it takes more than 45 minutes to clear this arterial road. If Pedder Road residents are benefitting reduced travel time due to bridges elsewhere, they should not be opposing this one. The bridge will give relief to those lakhs of motorists who pass the area daily."

Clarifying the residents' stand, Maninder Singh, president of Pedder Road Residents' Association, said, "We using other bridges but opposing one here is an obnoxious statement by an obnoxious mind. There are several reasons that we have been repeating as to why the project is not feasible."

The locals welcome a coastal road or sea link. "We want development in Mumbai but not at the cost of haphazard planning, be it a longer bridge or two shorter flyovers; that's nothing but a crazy idea," said Singh.
Praising the chief minister's plan for a coastal road on the western coast of Mumbai, he said having a road on reclaimed land is a way better option to decongest city roads.

Timeline
February 2000
: IIT conducts a study, and Pedder Road Flyover is conceptualised soon after.
2001: Pedder Road Flyover proposal is formally announced. Residents, including Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale, oppose it.

November 27, 2006: MCZMA rejects the plan.

March 12, 2008: A public consultation meeting is held but ends without any 'conclusion'.

May 2008: MMRDA plans a feasibility study for tunnel from Haji Ali to Nariman Point.

February 25, 2010: Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure gives nod to Pedder Road Flyover.

February 25, 2010: MCZMA gives its nod.

April 19, 2010: MCZMA recommends it to NCZMA.

November 2010: Coastal Road plan is announced on the western coast.

July 18, 2011: A public hearing turns ugly with fist fights among Pedder Road resident and NCP workers. MSRDC decides to go ahead with the project.

December 24, 2012: MSRDC invites bids for construction.

May 15, 2013: MSRDC calls for a project management consultant.

November 29, 2013: Expert appraisal committee gives suggestions for projects related to infrastructure development, on conditions to be stipulated while giving environment clearance to the project.

September 2013: Shorter version of flyover is proposed.

September 4, 2014: Project gets CRZ clearance.

October 2014: Pedder Road Residents Association moves National Green Tribunal against the environment clearance.

December 2014: A pre-feasibility study on shorter Pedder Road flyovers is announced.

Statistics
In case of one long flyover...

Length: 4.2km
Lanes: 2+2
Bidders: Simplex, J Kumar, Gammon, GMC, L&T and IL&FS
2008 cost: Rs140 crore
2011 cost: Rs205 crore
2014 cost: Rs380 crore
In case of two short bridges...
South-bound: 1.5km-long
North-bound: 1km-long

Current status
The MSRDC will be conducting a pre-feasibility study on having smaller flyovers on Pedder Road, instead of going for a 4.2km-long viaduct right from Haji Ali to Girgaum Chowpatty. The Pedder Road Residents Association, on the other hand, have moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT), challenging the CRZ clearance given to the 4.2km-long bridge. MSRDC has to submit its reply with NGT in mid-January.

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