Mumbai: ‘Many suggestions for coastal road, most repetitive’

The BMC’s decision to extend the deadline for citizens to send in their views about the coastal road’s detailed project report (DPR) seems to have worked, with 400 suggestions and objections poured in so far.

The BMC’s decision to extend the deadline for citizens to send in their views about the coastal road’s detailed project report (DPR) seems to have worked, with 400 suggestions and objections poured in so far.

Civic officials, however, claimed that most of the feedback has come from Bandra residents who opposed to the project, and shows the veiws of only a section of the city’s population.

Bandra locals, in fact, have decided to take their protest a step further, with the Bandra West Residents Association (BWRA) to form a human chain at Carter road and Bandra Bandstand promenades on August 15, against the mega infrastructure project.

The objections and suggestions have come after residents studying the DPR that was published on the civic body’s website in June. However, civic officials claimed most of the objections are repetitive and unlikely to be incorporated.

The initial deadline for receiving residents’ views was July 27, which was extended to August 27. The civic body received nearly 250-odd suggestions in the past ten days, taking the overall figure to over 400.

At a meeting held on Sunday, the BWRA announced a human chain protest along with school children and residents of Bandra on Independence Day, after flag hoisting at both the Carter road and Bandra Bandstand promenades.

One of the Trustees of BWRA, Arjun Chhabria, said, “We have decided to protest because this project is not going to help citizens.”

A civic official said fishermen’s issues will be given priority while revising the plan of the coastal road.

“The number of objections received has gone up twice after the extension. This is because citizens have got more time to study the DPR, which is very vast. However, we have received very few objections and suggestions that can actually be incorporated. Objections received from fishermen will be taken up on priority,” he said.