Mumbai’s coastal road: BMC chases NOCs
BMC is trying to speed up the project, which is in limbo because of pending changes to coastal zone rules
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) needs 17 no-objection certificates (NOCs) from various government authorities in order to make the ambitious coastal road project a reality. That is why BMC is already seeking NOCs from these authorities, even before the union ministry of environment and forests amends the coastal regulations that would allow the construction of the coastal road.
The civic body wants to speed up the work, as it fears that the project is behind schedule because of the delay in the notification of the amendment.
Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar had assured Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last month that the final notification about the CRZ amendment will be out in 15 days. To the dismay of civic officials, the notification is yet to come even after a month of him giving his assurance.
Fearing delay, the civic body has issued letters seeking NOCs from various BMC departments such as the hydraulic department, the traffic department, storm water drains, and sewage, among others, informing them about the details of the project.
Letters have also been sent out to other authorities such as Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), as the BMC plans to connect one arm of the coastal road to the Worli-Sewri elevated road, said sources.
Also, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has been kept in the loop, because one arm of the coastal road will be connected to Bandra-Worli sea link as well. The letters seeking NOCs from the coast guard and navy have also been issued. The BMC has presented the details of the project to the traffic department, and the road’s various exit points have been discussed at length. BMC sources said BMC will also be giving a detailed presentation to the heritage committee and tree authority.
A civic official said, “There should not be any difficulty in getting NOCs.”
Meanwhile, the civic body has appointed a consultant for peer review (third party audit) of the detailed project report, the first phase of which is expected to be completed by February 2016. As per the civic officials it is likely that the design of the coastal road is altered; for one, the length of the tunnel from Nariman Point to Priyadarshini Park is expected to be reduced. The civic body is planning to dig the tunnel from Tambe chowk instead of Nariman Point, and end it at Priyadarshani Park.