Mumbai Transit Set To Improve As Rs 20,648-Crore Coastal Road And Dahisar-Bhayander Link Projects Receive Environmental Clearances

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced Wednesday (4 December) that it has secured Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances for two major infrastructure projects: the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project and the Dahisar Bhayander Link Road (DBLR). 

The Coastal Road’s second phase will connect Versova in the western suburbs with Dahisar in north Mumbai, while the DBLR will create an elevated corridor linking suburban Mumbai to Mira-Bhayander in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

A public notice issued by the BMC confirmed that the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted these clearances on 13 November. Together, these projects are valued at Rs 20,648 crore and aim to improve connectivity between the island city, suburban Mumbai, and the broader MMR.

According to senior BMC officials, two of the three required environmental clearances have been obtained. "We are waiting for the forest department’s permission which is expected to come through by year end considering the elections are over now. The civil work for these projects will start as soon as the permissions are in place," an official stated. 

Contracts have already been awarded, but work was delayed due to pending clearances. The second phase of the coastal road, spanning 22.93 km and costing Rs 16,621 crore, will include bridges, flyovers, and tunnels, starting in Versova and ending in Dahisar. From there, the 5.6-km DBLR, costing Rs 4,027 crore, will extend to Mira-Bhayander. 

Of its total length, 1.5 km will fall under BMC’s jurisdiction, while 4.1 km will be managed by the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation. The elevated corridor, built on stilts, will feature 4×4 lanes with emergency vehicle lanes.

Given the mangroves and creeks along the routes, environmental clearances were critical. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Piyush Goyal played key roles in securing permissions for Phase 1, expediting approvals for the current phases.

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