The committee formed to explore the possibility of coastal roads in the city will ask the state government to make Mumbai a special case to relax the stringent norms in the Coastal Regulatory Zone.
The committee formed to explore the possibility of coastal roads in the city will ask the state government to make Mumbai a special case to relax the stringent norms in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ).
The state government-appointed high-level technical committee will soon submit its report to the government, which in turn, will submitted it to the Centre.
“The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) is aware about the need to develop Mumbai’s coastal infrastructure. We have submitted it presentations stating that sea links are an expensive proposition for the city,” said Ratnakar Gaikwad, state chief secretary. “If they are replaced by coastal roads, wherever possible, it would bring down the cost drastically and even the construction period required would be much cheaper,” said Gaikwad.
The MOEF has permitted the state to construct coastal roads on stilts. According to senior officials, this was not a viable alternative to the sea link. In the draft report of the high-level technical committee, it is clearly said the coastal roads are the need of the hour and the Centre should look at relaxing restrictions which prevent state agencies from constructing coastal road by reclaiming land. “The committee has earmarked specific locations in the city where reclamation is possible and coastal roads can be constructed. The final report on the issue is likely to be submitted in December,” added Gaikwad.
The major beneficiary of the coastal road project is likely to be the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, which has already made a presentation before the chief minister and the MOEF about a garland project.
The presentation includes coastal roads proposals connecting Virar and Versova, Versova and Bandra, Cuff Parade and Haji Bandar, apart from the already under construction projects of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and the Haji Bandar-Ghatkopar Eastern Freeway project.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}