Santacruz Chembur Link Road project: Defence land issue resolved as BMC agrees to pay Rs 11 crore

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Defence Ministry had been in a long-standing dispute over land compensation costs; work of SCLR extension began in 2016.

Extension of the Vakola Nullah bridge to four lanes from its current two lanes will be fast-tracked as the BMC. This widening is a crucial part of Phase 1 of the ongoing Santacruz Chembur Link Road (File Image)

The extension of the Vakola Nullah bridge to four lanes from its current two lanes will be fast-tracked as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has agreed to pay Rs 11 crore to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in exchange of the land needed for the project. This widening is a crucial part of Phase 1 of the ongoing Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) Extension project, which has faced delays due to the need for defence land.

According to a source from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is executing the project, the BMC has already initiated the disbursement process. Officials now believe that Phase 1 of the project is likely to be completed by September.

The BMC and MoD had been in a long-standing dispute over land compensation costs. Initially, the MoD had calculated the compensation at Rs 27 crore, while the BMC, using the ready reckoner rate, estimated a much lower cost. Negotiations have been ongoing for several years.

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The SCLR extension is a 3.8-km elevated road with a construction cost of about Rs 415 crore. Though the work began in 2016 with an original deadline of 2019, the project has experienced delays.

Regarding the remaining compensation, the source explained that the BMC has requested the MoD to allow it to start construction with the payment of Rs 11 crore, and that the remaining disputed amount would be settled upon reaching a final agreement.

Officials said that the second phase can only begin after the completion of Phase 1, as the civil work is sequential and dependent on the completion of specific portions of the project.

The SCLR extension bridge spans from Kapadia Nagar Junction (just after LBS Road) to the WEH near Vakola junction. Phase 1 includes key areas such as Vakola Junction, Ambedkar Chowk, University Junction, and BKC Junction, connecting Kurla to the Vakola bridge elevated road. Phase 2 will extend from Bharat Diamond Bourse BKC to Vakola Junction.

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