Latest news with #KavitaChawla
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Coastal Rd Breach Candy parking lot pit to be filled
Mumbai: Nearly seven months after BMC-appointed contractors excavated a 6,000 sq metre pit for a proposed underground car park along the Coastal Road interchange at Breach Candy, the site is set to be backfilled. "We were awaiting approval, as the plan for the car park was scrapped. Now the area will be filled up to the high tide line," said a civic official. The project was shelved following strong opposition from locals, who feared that a new parking facility would worsen traffic congestion in the area. But the large pit dug for the project remained untouched. Earlier this year, residents flagged concerns over water accumulation in the excavated pit, warning that it could become a mosquito breeding ground. "After the downpour earlier this week, the pit filled up again. If the water isn't drained soon, it could pose a serious health risk," said Nigum Lakhani, a resident of a building facing the site. Walkers at the nearby Amarsons Park have also reported a spike in mosquito nuisance, with many now avoiding the open space where they would usually unwind after their daily walk. Kavita Chawla, a Breach Candy resident whose flat overlooks the Coastal Road, said the stagnant water has been a persistent issue. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bolsas nos olhos? (Tente isso hoje à noite) Revista Saúde & Beleza Saiba Mais Undo "It's been there for months now and this large pit remains open as such. We need urgent action," she said. The plan for the 246-space underground car park was dropped earlier this year. Protests began in Oct last year, soon after excavation work started. The underground car park was originally envisioned as a two-level facility with a surface car lift.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Coastal Rd likely to remain open 24 hours by mid-June
Mumbai: BMC is aiming to complete the Coastal Road promenade by Jun 15. Officials said that only after the promenade work is completed will the road be opened 24x7. Currently, the road is open 7 am till midnight. It has been over a year after the road was opened to traffic in March last year. The promenade will also feature a dedicated cycle track and is likely to be a boon for walkers and joggers who could use it via the underpasses that have been made. This will be a 7.5 km continuous promenade between Priyadarshini Park (PDP) and the Worli-end of the sea link and will be 20mt wide. Officials say night access remains restricted as material and equipment continue to be transported for the ongoing promenade work, which is almost in the final stages. Interestingly, despite restricted hours, the Coastal Road stretch is already drawing weekend visitors. Around the Breach Candy section, several vehicles have been spotted pulling over as motorists pause to take in views of the Arabian Sea. Kavita Chawla, a Breach Candy resident, likened the scene to a new Marine Drive. "We've always seen cars along Marine Drive stop for a glimpse of the sea. Now, with the promenade nearly complete, the same pattern is emerging here," she said, watching the activity from her home. However, not everyone is as enthusiastic. Nandini Chabria, another resident of the area, raised safety concerns. "It's not safe for cars to halt on a high-speed stretch like the Coastal Road. This kind of stopping should be discouraged by traffic authorities," she said. "Another small work that is yet to be completed is the canopies of the public underpasses (PUP)," said an official. These underpasses can be used to access the promenade at various points along the road. Meanwhile, as reported last week, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is the frontrunner for developing the approximately 70 hectares of open space that has been reclaimed along the coastal road. Civic officials estimate that even conservatively, a project of such a large scale may cost the appointed agency around Rs 1,000 crore. The construction of the Mumbai Coastal Road project, which began around November 2018, was to be completed in November 2023. However, delays like the Covid-induced lockdown and a design change owing to resistance from Worli fisherfolk pushed the deadline of the final leg of the project. The entire project is yet to see full completion. The total cost of the project is Rs 13,983.83 crore, which includes the construction cost of Rs 9,383.74 crore and other administrative charges.
