The Maharashtra government’s plan to upgrade Mumbai’s transportation infrastructure has received a boost as the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the ministry of environment and forest has recommended the Rs 4,045-crore Versova-Bandra sea link project for coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance. The state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is the nodal agency for the proposed 10-km sealink project having four plus four lanes on both the sides.
The state government has proposed projects of over Rs 1 lakh crore including sea links, coastal roads, bridges, rail corridors and internal water transport schemes. The proposed Versova-Bandara sea link is part of the Mumbai infrastructure upgrade plan.
However, the EAC has laid down seven conditions such as replantation of mangroves to compensate for destruction of existing ones, compliance of assurances given to fishermen, getting forest clearance from the forest ministry and the approval of the Bombay High Court, and no dredging and reclamation for the project.
This apart, MSRDC would have to strictly follow all the recommendations made by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Agency. All the construction equipment should have exhaust silencer.
MSRDC official confirmed this development. “EAC at its meeting held on October 18 had given its go ahead for recommending it for CRZ clearance. The minutes of the meeting were released recently. The proposed sea link will save travelling time and curb traffic congestion. There is no open space available for the expansion of existing roads connecting Bandra and Versova in north Mumbai. The sea link is, therefore, quite crucial for the alternative faster transportation system.” The official informed that MSRDC has proposed plant mangrove 10 times at Bandra adjacent to the project as necessary under the CRZ Notification, 2011. The identified land is government land, which currently has sparse mangrove.
MSRDC has prepared extensive environment management plan (EMP) and disaster management plan for the project. It has also budgeted Rs 44 crore towards EMP, which may go up during implementation of the project. The road would be constructed on silt in the mangroves at the Versova connector for construction of four-five piers.
The University of Mumbai’s life sciences department had carried out marine impact assessment studies for the project through Fine Envirotech Engineers.
According to officials, MSRDC has already held discussions with the fishermen and agreed to develop a small jetty and common area for their repairing of net, give preference of employment and compensation and provide compensation to the affected fishermen. Besides, MSRDC has also interacted with local people, NGOs, and the authorities concerned.
