Maharashtra: Proposed Uttan-Virar Sea Bridge Gets CRZ Clearance; 52,000 New Trees To Be Planted

The proposed Uttan-Virar sea bridge project has cleared a key hurdle with the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) granting Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, News18 reported.

This paves the way for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to initiate construction on the 42.75 km bridge, one of the state’s largest infrastructure projects.

The proposed Uttan-Virar Sea Bridge will span the Arabian Sea and connect three important locations: Uttan, MSEB, and Virar. It will provide a much-needed lifeline for daily commuters between Mumbai and its northern suburbs.

The bridge promises to make the daily journeys of lakhs of people who currently struggle with long, crowded routes faster, smoother, and much less stressful.

The project, which was formerly known as the Versova-Virar sea link, spans an area of 68.8 lakh square meters, with a large portion of it located in the environmentally delicate CRZ-4 marine zone.

The MMRDA has consented to 27 requirements designed to protect the coastline in order to proceed responsibly.

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To counteract the environmental impact, these include extensive afforestation, replanting initiatives, and thorough ecological surveys.

Preserving Mumbai's delicate mangrove cover is one of the plan's most important components. 

The authorities have committed to planting over 52,000 new mangrove trees across a specially designated 10.8-hectare patch outside the CRZ limits, despite the possibility that 8,420 mangrove trees may be impacted during construction. 

This is a massive replantation drive and one of the largest in the state for any single infrastructure project.

In addition to providing a solution to traffic problems, the bridge is being praised as an illustration of how nature and development can coexist.

Groundwork is anticipated to start shortly after obtaining green clearance, which would be a significant step in reshaping Mumbai's coastal connectivity while maintaining sustainability.

The sea bridge is being positioned not only as an engineering feat but also as a model for sustainable development along India’s fragile western coastline.

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