After the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority forwarded the proposal of a coastal road from Worli up to Haji Ali, officials of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation are now preparing a detailed proposal to be sent the central government.
After the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) forwarded the proposal of a coastal road from Worli up to Haji Ali, officials of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) are now preparing a detailed proposal to be sent the central government (ministry of environment and forests — MoEF).
Interestingly, the corporation has also sought a legal opinion about a possibility of a change of contract with Reliance Infrastructure led consortium which is to construct the next phase of the sea link.
Corporation managing director and vice chairman Bipin Shrimali told DNA that the MCZMA as well as the corporation will be sending a detailed proposal explaining the concept of a coastal road instead of continuation of the sea-link to the central government.
“We have already started discussions informally with the central ministry. In about a month’s time, our formal proposal will reach the MoEF,” said Shrimali.
While most of the officials working on the project are tight lipped about the further developments, a top source from the corporation has hinted that help from legal experts is being taken to deal with the existing contract with Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium.
“The present contract is for the Worli-Haji Ali sea link. However, if we get a nod for a go-ahead with a coastal road — partly by reclamation and partly on stilt and if we ask R-Infra to go ahead with the new project, huge changes may be needed in the contract. We are asking our legal team to work out the same,” said a corporation source.
He also said that the final decision on whether to involve R-Infra will be taken by the cabinet committee on infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Reliance Infrastructure officials are upset about the recent sequence of events. While none of them could comment on the development of sea link being now converted into a coastal road, sources close to the development told DNA that the consortium will be declaring financial fitness by March 25 to construct the sea link.
“It is surprising that the corporation officials are talking to everybody except us. We are following the contract signed to construct a sea link, but unfortunately the MSRDC is not,” said a source.
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