BMC starts work on north phase of coastal road project in Goregaon
Set to connect Versova in the western suburbs with the satellite city of Bhayandar, the north phase of the Coastal Road Project encompasses interchanges, elevated roads and twin tunnels. The mega project passes through land and creeks with most of the area falling under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
On Wednesday, the civic body said that foundation work at a 1.2 kilometre stretch in Goregaon, which lies outside the CRZ boundary, has been commenced. According to officials, this stretch falls under the Package B of the project, which encompasses an overall area of 1.66 km between Bangur Nagar and Mindspace (Malad). For perspective, the coastal road has been divided into six packages between Versova and Dahisar.
While carrying out inspection of the foundation work at the non-CRZ area in Goregaon, AMC (Projects), Bangar on Wednesday instructed officials to ensure that no work is undertaken in areas which are categorized under CRZ. Besides overlooking ongoing works at Goregaon, Bangar also conducted site visits at Versova, Andheri, Lokhandwala interchange, Malad mindscape among other pockets where he interacted with officials and took stock of several works being executed under the ambit of coastal road phase 2.
Earlier this month, the BMC received the crucial in-principal (Stage I) approvals for the mangrove forest diversion proposal to develop the project through the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Having procured the stage I approvals, the civic body is now going to approach the High Court.
According to officials, work can be commenced only after acquiring the working permissions from the High Court. Following this, the MoEFCC grants the Stage II (final) approvals for the project.
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