BMC starts survey for coastal road project

The survey will decide the feasibility of the 9.98-km road, which starts at Princess Street and ends at the Bandra-Worli sea link.

Even as the approval of the ministry of environment and forests’ (MoEF) for the ambitious Rs12,000 crore coastal road project is awaited, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began the geo-technical survey for the first phase of the project on Thursday.

The survey will decide the feasibility of the 9.98-km road, which starts at Princess Street and ends at the Bandra-Worli sea link. It will be completed by January 31.

As part of the survey, 166 holes (30-40m deep) will be dug across the stretch to check the quality of the rocks and soil. The findings of the survey will tell whether the stretch can bear the load of the project.

This data will be important while drafting the tender documents for appointing contractors.

Tenders worth Rs10 crore were floated in August to appoint contractors to carry out the survey.

This is the third time consultants are being appointed for the project, after the Detailed Project Report (DPR) last year.

It had also hired consultants to study the wave patterns and the impact of the coastal road project on marine lines. Interestingly, both the studies are yet to be completed.

The ambitious project has received 17 no-objection certificates (NOCs) from civic body, coast guard, Indian Navy, Public Works Department and Maharashtra Maritime Board. But, the main clearance from the MoEF is still awaited.

The 33.207-km coastal road is planned along the west coastline of Mumbai, which will provide a freeway linking south Mumbai with the western suburbs. It will originate from Nariman Point and culminate at the Western Express Highway at Kandivli.