The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has given its go- ahead to CIDCO’s proposal for construction of the Coastal Road from Jalmarg (Sector 16, Kharghar) to Sector 11 in Belapur CBD and balance link between Sector 15 CBD to the water transport terminal in Nerul. With this, traffic on the Sion-Panvel highway is expected to be decongested.
The project site falls in CRZ 1A with 62439 sqm mangroves, CRZ 1B, CRZ2 and CRZ 4. A part of Navi Mumbai’s development plan, CIDCO’s coastal road will be 9.679 km of which 2.986 km is the existing road. It will be a mix of stilt on road and road at ground level through reclamation.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) along with the Sewri Nhava connector will be the main corridor that connects Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. With the Kharghar coastal link road, connectivity to Navi Mumbai International Airport and South and Central Mumbai districts will be seamless.
According to the plan submitted to MCZMA, the proposed alignment will start from Jalmarg in Kharghar and will cross Sion Panvel expressway with interchange. It will continue between Sector 10 Kharghar and Sector 11 Belapur through the existing 30 m wide roads in Belapur CBD. Further it will cross Amra Nagar (NH 348 A) and continue at grade road along creek connecting to elevated road at Water Transport Terminal, Nerul and finally joins Palm Beach Marg near Delhi Public School (DPS).
There are 1,182 matured mangroves spread over 8.22hectares in the coastal road alignment. CIDCO has expressed its willingness to replant the mangrove trees in consultation with the Mangrove Cell. Further all necessary permissions for cutting the mangroves have to be obtained including prior permission from High Court, mentioned the MCZMA minutes.
