A Sea Change in the offing - Mumbai seafront set for makeover in Rs.10k crore project
- 19th Jan 2015
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Mumbai Real Estate all set to benefit from its Sea Front
Top bureaucrats from the city’s civic body and the Union Environment Ministry (MoEF) met last week to consider a project that could transform Mumbai’s seafront. Also present were the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The project proposes a four-lane road, undersea tunnels, a two-lane Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and tourist-friendly promenades and gardens along the coastal road.
The new project, if approved by the MoEF, could mean a more attractive waterfront for Mumbai city. The plan includes two undersea tunnels (5 meters below sea level) covering a distance of 3.5kms within 300-400 meters of the seashore. Additional land (approx.70 hectares) would be reclaimed to augment existing roads and some would be built on stilts to implement the project.
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The MoEF is expected to give it the green signal after assessing its impact on the marine ecology and other environmental factors. Additional municipal commissioner Mr S.V.R. Srinivas, who will oversee the project, said the project would be completed in 4 to 5 years after it receives the ministry’s ‘go-ahead’. The project costing INR 10,000 crore would be funded by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. Mr Srinivas also pointed out that open spaces created as a consequence of the reclamation would not be used for real estate projects.
Although the general response was positive, the initial reaction had been mixed. Among the attendees were officials and representatives from associate bodies like Mumbai Transportation Support Unit (MTSU), BRTS, STUP, etc. MTSU representative Sulakshana Mahajan observed that the report though detailed failed to explain the methods of ventilation and waterproofing required for the undersea tunnels. She also felt that since the tunnels would not adversely affect sea wave formation as they would be constructed 15 feet below sea level.
Mr Srinivas said the BRTS would help in traffic decongestion of arterial roads such as Western Express Highway; hence it would be welcomed by ordinary citizens. The MoEF will consider the project after it receives a detailed report of the project and its potential impact on the environment from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, which is appointed by the MTSU. The NIO would examine how the tunnels and their construction would affect the high tide line and the wave patterns.
Rajesh Kulkarni is a professional content writer and he writes on various contemporary topics.... read more
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