Mumbai: Land trouble forces MMRDA to reroute Virar-Alibaug corridor

Problems in acquiring land from locals in Navi Mumbai has forced the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to alter the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor (VAMC) plan.

Problems in acquiring land from locals in Navi Mumbai has forced the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to alter the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor (VAMC) plan.

The corridor will join the proposed Vadodara- JNPT expressway near Matheran, and continue as a single highway for 22km before ending at JNPT.

At first, both highways were planned to run parallel for 20km. VAMC would cut through the middle of the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (Naina), which is being developed by Cidco. However, authorities said they cannot construct VAMC through Naina, not only because of some technical issues, but also because locals were opposed to it.

“We tried to get the VAMC to pass through Naina. But, the local people expressed their opposition. Now, it will pass through Naina’s outskirts,” said Sanjay Bhatia, managing director, Cidco.

As the Vadodara - JNPT expressway, being built by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), has also been planned to run through the outskirts of Naina, it was decided to merge them both.

“The decision was made at a recent meeting between state bureaucrats and NHAI officials. Merging the highways will avoid unnecessary expenditure. Once merged, the Virar-Alibaug corridor will be wider up to JNPT,” said a senior MMRDA official, requesting anonymity.

The MMRDA plans to develop the 126km multimodal corridor on a cash-contract basis. The corridor will connect the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, proposed Navi Mumbai airport, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and growth centres such as Kalyan, Dombivli and Panvel.