In a setback for the proposed Navi Mumbai Coastal Road Project, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has deferred the proposal, citing significant damage to mangroves.
The EAC highlighted potential environmental concerns related to the coastal road that stretches from Jalmarg-16, Kharghar, to Sector 11 in CBD-Belapur, and the connecting link from Sector 15, CBD, to the Water Transport Terminal in Nerul. The committee advised the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to explore three alternative alignments and consider modifications to the structural design of the proposed road. Expressing apprehension over the potential harm to mangroves, the EAC urged CIDCO to evaluate constructing long-span bridges or cable-stayed bridges to minimize environmental impact, an approach previously approved for other projects.
During a recent meeting, the committee scrutinized information provided by CIDCO and recommended a comprehensive submission of road design details, traffic plans, noise barrier plans, and proposed parking plans. In response, CIDCO has committed to assessing alternative alignments and structural modifications, aligning with the EAC’s suggestions. The proposed coastal road, encompassing a 9.68km stretch with a right of way varying between 30m and 45m, forms a crucial part of the development plan for Navi Mumbai. The alignment traverses the landward side of the creek, intersecting with existing structures like roads, grounds, bunds, VUPs, and culverts along the creek.
Notably, the EAC emphasized the potential impact on mangroves, with 1,182 mangroves proposed to be cut within the alignment, covering an area of 8.2222 hectares. Additionally, 447 trees from 30 species across 15 families, ranging from 70mm to 1,600mm in girth, are earmarked for removal.
In response to concerns raised by the deputy conservator of forests, Alibag, CIDCO has committed to compensatory afforestation over 18.6 hectares, guided by MCZMA, MoEF&CC, the forest department, and Bombay High Court directives. The coastal road, envisioned to alleviate traffic congestion on Palm Beach Road and Sion-Panvel Highway, provides additional connectivity between Kharghar and CBD-Belapur. It also serves as a crucial link to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, forming a pivotal component of the region’s infrastructural development plans.
