MMRDA plans Rs 400 crore, 2-km-long sea link in Raigad

If everything goes as per the plan, Raigad will soon become the second district in the state, after Mumbai, to get a sea link that will connect Rewas with Karanja, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has made a provision of Rs 400 crore for the project in its budget.

Bandra-Worli Sea Link was the first structure in the state and was thrown open for public use on June 30, 2009. File pic

The development body believes that the project will not only help in the development of various regions in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), but will also solve commuting woes.

An MMRDA official confirmed, "For the past several years, residents of Raigad have been demanding a bridge across Rewas creek, which will solve their commuting woes. In order to solve the issue, we will be constructing a two-km-long bridge over the creek, connecting Rewas with Karanja, at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore." At present, a commuter wanting to go to Rewas is forced to travel 70 km via road to reach Karanja, which takes over two hours.

Though ferry services are operational between the two locations, reducing the travel time to just 15 minutes, operating them during monsoon becomes almost impossible. This eventually forces commuters to take the longer route. With a sea link connecting Rewas with Karanja and a 3-km-long approach road to the sea link at both ends, not only the locals but even the tourists wanting to visit these places would be benefited as the sea link would cut down their travelling time drastically.

The primary reason why the MMRDA decided to initiate this project was because of the interest shown by CM Prithviraj Chavan, who is also MMRDA chairperson. He instructed the authorities to study the proposal thoroughly. Once the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) connecting Sewri with Nhava Sheva in Raigad is operational, the Rewas-Karanja Sea Link would aid tourists travelling to Alibaug and Murud.

Officials said that once the construction work commences, it would take about three to four years for completion. Besides, the project would require a clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) as it is bound to pass over Rewas creek.

MMR projects in the pipeline
Kalyan Ring Road: The MMRDA plans to build a 29.7-km-long ring road in Kalyan that would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 312.11 crore. A flyover at Katainaka Junction and two ROBs across Diva-Vasai Railway track in Bhopar village would be a part of the project. The MMRDA wants to take on this project because of the present MMR network around Kalyan city.

Bhiwandi Bypass Road: By spending Rs 120 crore, the MMRDA would be constructing a 12-km-long Bhiwandi Bypass Road. The road will start at Anjur Phata (south end of Bhiwandi) on Thane-Bhiwandi-Wada Road and running along the periphery of Bhiwandi city, the bypass road would meet outside the corporation's limit. The road was planned to ease traffic problems in Bhiwandi city. The project was recommended in the Comprehensive Transportation Study (CTS) of the MMRDA.