Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has granted clearance for the proposed 55-kilometre-long Uttan-Virar sea link project. Once completed, the high-speed corridor will connect the coastal towns of Uttan in Thane district to Virar in Palghar district, reducing travel time and decongesting existing road networks.
The ambitious project is aimed at enhancing coastal connectivity and is expected to serve as a strategic alternative to the saturated Western Express Highway and suburban rail routes. The sea link will begin near Bhayandar, pass through Uttan, and connect directly to Virar, with elevated stretches running along the Arabian Sea.
Officials said the alignment has been designed to minimise environmental disruption, and necessary clearances under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms have now been secured. The sea link will include viaducts, causeways, and interchanges to facilitate smooth traffic movement, and is part of the larger coastal road vision extending northwards from Mumbai.
The project is also expected to spur real estate and commercial development in the relatively underdeveloped coastal belts of Thane and Palghar, while offering an alternative route for daily commuters and freight movement.
Authorities will soon begin the process of preparing a detailed project report (DPR), following which tenders for construction will be floated. The construction timeline and funding model are yet to be finalised.
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