Coastal road project: Protesters to form human chain

The BMC had invited suggestions and objections from residents to the coastal road project, and July 27 is the last date for that.

The Bandra West Residents’ Association organised a public meeting Sunday evening to oppose the proposed coastal road. The association, along with other citizen groups, will soon form a human chain starting from Nariman Point to Gorai to lodge their opposition to the ambitious project. The BMC had invited suggestions and objections from residents to the coastal road project, and July 27 is the last date for that.

Darryl D’Monte, president of the association, appealed to the people to send their objections as soon as possible. “Only 7 per cent of the resident of Mumbai use cars. The government is trying to route Nariman Point to the western suburbs at a time when Nariman Point is losing its clout as a business district,” he said.

The Sunday meeting was organised at the Carter Road promenade, which experts say the project will affect immediately. Shweta Wagh, a faculty member from the Kamla Raheja College of Architecture, said by implementing the coastal road, Mumbaikars would be risking the natural waterfronts that were also important public spaces. She said, “The sea wall that is being built for the coastal road will cut-off the city from its coastline.”

The Rs 12,000-crore project connecting Nariman Point to Kandivali recently got an environmental clearance, following which the detailed project report was published on the BMC website in June-end.

Rishi Aggarwal, an environmentalist staunchly opposing the project, warned people of a parallel support campaign launched by many groups. He said, “We have to not only ask for more time to send our suggestions and objections but also conduct more meetings to make people aware of the environmental hazards that the proposed road will cause.”

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