State panel clears Nariman Point-Worli coastal road plan

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, the agency scrutinising infrastructure projects in coastal areas, has given a green signal to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corpor-ation’s (MSRDC) proposal to build a 12.5-km coastal road from Worli to Nariman Point.

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, the agency scrutinising infrastructure projects in coastal areas, has given a green signal to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corpor-ation’s (MSRDC) proposal to build a 12.5-km coastal road from Worli to Nariman Point.

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The MSRDC had earlier planned to build a sea link to connect these two points but chose to go with a coastal road because it was a cheaper option.

The state coastal body, in its meeting on Monday, examined the MSRDC’s proposal and decided to forward it to the Union environment ministry for favourable consideration.

“The proposal includes [building] some portion of a coastal road by reclamation and this is not permissible under the present notification. But we have recommended it to the ministry of environment and forests because it is a vital infrastructure project for the city,” environment secretary and member secretary of the coastal zone authority, Valsa Nair Singh, said.

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority cleared the project on three grounds – it can protect the city’s shore, it will be far cheaper than a coastal road on stilts and it will be more secure than a sea link. This is beside the obvious reason that Mumbai needs a coastal road to overcome traffic woes.