Coastal road stretches at Juhu, Girgaum will run under the beaches
State government is hoping that changes in coastal norms will secure the central government’s nod.
The Juhu-Versova stretch of the proposed western coastal road will run under the beach, according to a plan submitted by the BMC to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The Juhu-Versova tunnel will be one of two on the 34-km coastal road. The other, much shorter, tunnel will start near chowpatty on Marine Drive and end at Nepean Sea Road. This will also partly run under the Chowpatty beach.
“We don’t want to destroy any beaches. The coastal road will have two tunnels. One will start at Chowpatty and end at Nepean Sea road and the second will cover entire length of Juhu beach,” Additional Municipal Commissioner S V R Sreenivas told Mumbai Mirror on Wednesday.
The idea of having a tunnel under Juhu beach was suggested by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation when it was planning the Bandra-Versova sealink project. But the idea then was shelved by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government, which is seeking relaxation in Coastal Regulation Zone rules is hoping that the Union Environment Ministry will clear the proposal this time.
Environmentalists opposed to the coastal road, however, remain unconvinced that a tunnel under Juhu beach is a good idea. “This coastal road is illegal as per the existing laws, how are they going to dig the beaches. I am staunchly against coastal road and tunnels,’’ environmentalist Debi Goenka said.
Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation, said the problem with the coastal road is not restricted to beaches. “It will also affect promenades. It’s cutting off the sea from the city. I am against digging of beaches and having these tunnels,” she said.
The Juhu-Versova stretch of the proposed western coastal road will run under the beach, according to a plan submitted by the BMC to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The Juhu-Versova tunnel will be one of two on the 34-km coastal road. The other, much shorter, tunnel will start near chowpatty on Marine Drive and end at Nepean Sea Road. This will also partly run under the Chowpatty beach.
The new alignment takes care of the concern that the coastal road could interfere with the beauty of Juhu beach, one the city’s most celebrated and visited sea fronts.
“We don’t want to destroy any beaches. The coastal road will have two tunnels. One will start at Chowpatty and end at Nepean Sea road and the second will cover entire length of Juhu beach,” Additional Municipal Commissioner S V R Sreenivas told Mumbai Mirror on Wednesday.
The idea of having a tunnel under Juhu beach was suggested by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation when it was planning the Bandra-Versova sealink project. But the idea then was shelved by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government, which is seeking relaxation in Coastal Regulation Zone rules is hoping that the Union Environment Ministry will clear the proposal this time.
Environmentalists opposed to the coastal road, however, remain unconvinced that a tunnel under Juhu beach is a good idea. “This coastal road is illegal as per the existing laws, how are they going to dig the beaches. I am staunchly against coastal road and tunnels,’’ environmentalist Debi Goenka said.
Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation, said the problem with the coastal road is not restricted to beaches. “It will also affect promenades. It’s cutting off the sea from the city. I am against digging of beaches and having these tunnels,” she said.
