The Coastal Road Project in Mumbai is a 29.2-km long freeway that would to run along Mumbai's western coastline connecting Marine Lines in the south to Kandivali in the north. The eight-lane road with the estimated cost of 15,000 Crores is expected to be completed in four years (2022). The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is in charge of a 9.98-km section from Marine Drive to Worli (referred to as south section) while the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is overseeing the Versova-Bandra Sea Link (VBSL). The Mumbai Coastal Road has been proposed as an alternative to the Western Freeway.
The proposed Coastal Road will have eight lanes – six for vehicular traffic and two for a BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) corridor. The project will also include the construction of two underground earthquake-resistant tunnels – one under Girgaum Chowpatty and the other under Malabar Hill. Since its conception, the coastal road project has met with scepticism as it is a big threat to the environment. The project is been criticised and opposed by the large fishing community that feels the project will jeopardise their source of livelihood. In 2015, the draft Development Project Report (DPR) was published on the BMC’s website for inviting objections. It received 3,375 suggestions and objections.
Residents of Worli-Koliwada have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court in February, 2019 alleging that the 29.2-km-long Mumbai Coastal Road project was approved without consulting any member of the fishing community. The reclamation of land for the road, the petitioners have claimed, will impact the livelihood of countless fishermen in areas such as Worli, Khar Danda, Chimbai and several other places between Marine Drive in south Mumbai and Kandivali, a western suburb. The fishermen in the plea, have argued that the project also does not have all the requisite environment clearances and that it was started merely on the basis of permission from coastal zone authorities.
The Bench of Bombay High Court consisting of Chief justice Pradeep Nandrajog and justice NM Jamdar hearing two petitions against the project one being filed by NGO ‘Society for Improvement of Greenery and Nature’ and another by a group of residents led by Shweta Wagh challenging the project claimed that BMC has not obtained the necessary environmental clearances from the union government.
BMC conducted a Two-day rapid survey before starting the project which as claimed by petitioners as “Not enough to get a detailed account of any fishing activity or the impact of such activity on fishery resources”.
The Bench of Bombay HC on April 1, 2019 while hearing the petitions directed the union government to file an affidavit listing the steps that the centre was taking, to safeguard the livelihoods of fishermen affected by the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. The HC cautioned that ‘if it was not satisfied with the steps taken by the State and Central Authoritiess to protect the fishermen, it would have to think about whether to let the project go ahead or not.’
The Court, also directed the BMC to respond to an expert body report stating it had not conducted adequate surveys to study the impact of proposed coastal road project on the fisher folk and marine life in the city, also to maintain a status quo until the next hearing. Court in order to restrict BMC from causing any further damage said “whatever damage has been done to the coast is done but do not venture ahead into the area of the coast that you haven’t touched till now”.
Directing the BMC counsel Anil Sakhre to file reply on claims of petitioner in next hearing court listed the matter on April, 23.
Courtesy/By: Jayant Upadhyay
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13 Apr 2019
