BJP opposes bridge on Manori creek

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opposed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s plan to build a cable-stayed bridge on the Manori-Marve creek.

Senior BJP politician and former Union petroleum minister Ram Naik accused the authority of coming up with the proposal at the behest of certain builders.

“The proposed bridge would harm the environment and natural beauty of coastal villages like Manori, Gorai, and Uttan,” Naik said. “It would also endanger the livelihood of local fishermen and farmers. We therefore oppose it.”

Naik said the state government must explain why the bridge was being proposed though none of the local residents had asked for it. “The MMRDA claims that the bridge will reduce traffic congestion on the Western Express Highway and Swami Vivekanand Road,” he said. “I wonder how will it happen. Probably the government does not know that now the third link road is also being used for the same traffic.”

The BJP leader also cast a doubt on the clearance that is said to have been received from the defence ministry for the proposed bridge. “The navy’s INS Hamla and the army’s Heavy Bridge Training Centre are located on the same Marve coast,” Naik said. “It is hard to believe that the defence ministry would have given the green signal for the project. The MMRDA must clarify the situation.”