BMC’s Coastal Road phase 2, DBLR projects worth Rs 20,000 crore get Union environment ministry nod

These two projects having a total valuation of Rs 20,648 crore are set to provide seamless connectivity between the island city and the northern end of suburban Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Senior officials privy to these projects in BMC told the Indian Express that so far two of the three required environment clearances have come through from the state and central governments.

“The coastal regulation zone permissions have come through from both the central and state departments. We are waiting for the forest department’s permission which is expected to come through by year end considering the elections are over now. The civil work for these projects will start as soon as the permissions are in place,” said an official privy to this project.

The contract for these projects have been awarded to multiple agencies however, the on-ground work was yet to begin considering the environmental clearances were pending.

The second phase of the coastal road project will be 22.93-km long, which is set to originate from Versova in Andheri and extend till Dahisar at the northern tip of Mumbai. Pegged at a cost of Rs 16,621 crore, this project will include multiple bridges, flyovers and underground tunnels.

After the second phase of the Coastal road ends in Dahisar, the BMC said that the 5.6-km DBLR will extend further till Dahisar.
This elevated corridor is being considered as the final phase of the coastal road within the limits of Mumbai district.
Of the total length of this corridor, 1.5 km will be under the jurisdiction of BMC, while 4.1 km will be under the jurisdiction of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).

Pegged at a cost of Rs 4,027 crore, the elevated bridge will be 45 meters wide and will be built on stilts. It will have 4×4 lanes, to allow smooth traffic flow.

Civic officials said that emergency lanes for passing emergency vehicles like ambulance and fire-brigade engines will also be created on both sides.

Considering the fact that these two projects would be passing through mangrove patches and underneath creeks the administration was supposed to acquire environment clearances from the ministry.

Devendra Fadnavis, who was the chief minister then, had followed up with the Centre personally between 2014 and 2017 to ensure the required permission for the coastal road (Phase 1) came through in time.

Alongside this, Union minister and MP from North Mumbai Piyush Goyal had also held multiple meetings with officials from BMC and state and environment departments directing them to ensure all the permission comes through so that the work can get started at the earliest.