Mumbai Coastal Road project gets standing committee's nod

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Coastal Road project could be a reality in the next four years as the civic standing committee on Tuesday gave it a nod paving way for the construction of the Rs 12,000 crore project to begin post monsoons.
Even as several questions were raised over the escalation of the cost of the project from Rs 5,000 crores to over Rs 12,000 crores, the municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said that increase in fuel price, insurances and steel rates had caused the project cost to increase and Rs 5,000 crores were the initial estimates of cost of the project when the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared.
"Following this a peer review consultant was also appointed who reviewed the DPR and suggested several additions which were required. From our end every item has been scrutinised and project reviewed as well. There is a 48-month time period for completion of work and penalties would be levied if the time period is not being adhered too. The consultant will also be fined apart from the contractor for not ensuring that the work progesses as per the schedule set," said Mehta adding that the project would help in creating 90 hectares of open space which would be worth Rs 26,000 crores.
"These will remain as green spaces and will have no construction over it," said Mehta.
Mehta also said that the current cost of the project was the final rate and there would be no escalation following this.
The 9.98 km Coastal Road would link Marine Drive to the south end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) and would include an undersea tunnel of 6.8 kms which would run from Marine Lines to Priyadarshani Park. It would have four interchanges as well for decongesting areas around south Mumbai. It is expected to reduce travel time by 70%.