Large-scale site preparation has begun along the western shoreline of Mumbai for a major transport corridor that aims to improve road connectivity between the city’s northern suburbs. The initial work linked to the Coastal Road North project has triggered ecological scrutiny after civic authorities initiated clearance activity in mangrove zones to enable early-stage construction access.
Officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation confirmed that preparatory operations have started at two locations along the planned alignment of the Coastal Road North project, which is also known as the Versova Bhayandar Link Road. These early works are being undertaken near the Mindspace area in Malad and along the Versova coastline. According to civic authorities, the project will require access to approximately 103 hectares of land that currently includes mangrove vegetation. Technical assessments indicate that more than 45,000 mangrove plants may be affected during the development process, although only a portion of these would be permanently removed while the rest may be relocated or restored after construction.
Urban environmental planners note that mangroves along Mumbai’s coastline play a critical role in climate resilience. These ecosystems act as natural buffers against tidal surges, coastal flooding and storm impacts, while also supporting biodiversity and improving air and water quality in dense urban environments. Officials involved in the project say work has commenced under an interim operational clearance issued by forest authorities, allowing limited activities while final environmental approvals are awaited. The clearance reportedly permits controlled entry into the outer sections of the mangrove area to prepare the alignment for construction activities.
Engineering teams are expected to adopt phased operations while carrying out vegetation removal. Authorities have indicated that geographic mapping tools and on-site demarcation will guide the process so that work proceeds only within the permitted boundaries before moving towards denser sections of the mangrove zone. Environmental groups monitoring coastal development projects have raised concerns about the ecological consequences of large-scale mangrove disturbance. Several conservation advocates argue that the cumulative impact of transport infrastructure, land reclamation, and coastal construction could weaken the city’s natural defence systems against climate-driven risks.
The Coastal Road North project itself forms a major part of long-term mobility planning in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The 26-kilometre corridor is expected to connect suburban areas from Versova to Bhayandar, providing an alternative north–south travel route and reducing congestion on existing arterial roads. Infrastructure officials say the project carries an estimated cost exceeding ₹22,000 crore, with a significant allocation already provided in the municipal budget to advance construction phases. The corridor is targeted for completion later in the decade, subject to environmental approvals and land clearances.
Urban policy analysts say the situation highlights the increasingly complex balance between expanding metropolitan infrastructure and protecting ecological assets. As coastal cities face rising climate risks, long-term planning may need to integrate transport expansion with stronger safeguards for natural ecosystems. The coming months are expected to determine how authorities address both mobility requirements and environmental protection concerns as work progresses on the Coastal Road North project.
BMC Coastal Corridor Project Likely To Impact Over 45000 Mangroves
