Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis asks BMC commissioner to make coastal road DPR public

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today asked Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to make the coastal road detail plan report (DPR) public so that people can share their ideas and suggestions for the project.

"I have asked the Municipal Commissioner to make coastal road DPR public," Fadnavis said.

"Share your ideas and suggestions to bring the best out of this initiative," he appealed to people in a tweet.

After the Environment Ministry gave its nod to the state government to construct the 35.6-km coastal road, aimed at improving connectivity between south Mumbai and the suburbs, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is preparing a DPR of the freeway.

"The environment assessment impact will be conducted and studied after the plan is finalised, and then we will open it for public hearing. All aspects need to be considered before the construction, including opinions of citizens and experts," a civic official said.

The project will connect Nariman Point to Kandivli, through a road running along the coast in the western suburbs.

After a joint technical committee report was submitted in 2011, the plan has been mired in controversy over its likely environmental impact.

The road will include 10 km underground tunnels at two locations - beginning from Nariman Point to Priyadarshni Park and another from Juhu to Versova beach.

The BMC has decided to construct the tunnels in the sea, as against the original plan to build them under the beaches.

The coastal road will also include 22 interchanges - entry and exit points - and lanes dedicated to the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), so that the stretch can serve modes of mass transport too.