Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar conducted a detailed inspection of the site and reviewed progress on all three key packages—A, B, and C—of the Versova to Bhayandar corridor
Pic/BMC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has commenced on-ground work in the Non-CRZ zone of Goregaon under Package B of the ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road (North) Project, aimed at easing traffic congestion across the city’s western suburbs.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar conducted a detailed inspection of the site and reviewed progress on all three key packages—A, B, and C—of the Versova to Bhayandar corridor. He directed officials to accelerate the pace of work and coordinate effectively with various government agencies to eliminate procedural and logistical bottlenecks.
The 1.2-kilometre stretch currently under development in Goregaon falls outside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), allowing BMC to begin foundational work. Bangar reiterated that no work in CRZ-designated areas can commence without the necessary permissions.
The project recently received Stage-1 in-principle approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for the diversion of mangrove areas, a significant milestone expected to expedite further construction. Following the clearance, Bangar inspected various sites under the three project packages. He held discussions with engineers from the BMC’s bridges department and project consultants regarding road alignments and potential design improvements.
He also visited the Versova-Bandra Sea Link (VBSeL) project site, currently being developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). While reviewing the progress of the double-decker bridge, Bangar expressed concern over possible congestion near the JVPD arm of the flyover. He suggested examining the feasibility of an additional arm and road widening to maintain smooth traffic flow.
As part of his inspection, Bangar reviewed layouts near MHADA’s Aram Nagar in Andheri West and the Central Institute of Fisheries Education. At Yari Road, he inspected an under-construction bridge near the Amarnath–Badrinath Housing Society, which includes a 110-meter basket-type span bridge over a creek. Encroachments in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Nagar area were identified as obstacles that need to be cleared to avoid project delays.
At the Mad interchange, which will connect Versova to Mad, Bangar directed officials to clarify land availability with MHADA. At the Lokhandwala interchange, a space-constrained area near a law college and the Bhagat Singh flyover, the original ground-level rotary model has been revised. A new three-tier flyover system is planned to ensure seamless, signal-free movement through the intersection.
Under Package B, initial groundwork for a cable-stayed bridge is underway, with road alignment extending from Malad’s Mindspace area and a proposed interchange leading to Goregaon. Foundation work is ongoing along a 600-meter stretch in Malad and a 1.2-km Non-CRZ stretch in Goregaon.
Bangar also reviewed plans to relocate a high-tension electricity tower near Oberoi Mall in Goregaon. He held discussions with Adani Electricity and directed officials to explore using MHADA land for the relocation.
In Package C, tunneling work requires the creation of a shaft, for which part of the land is owned by a private developer. While adjoining government land is already available, Bangar instructed the acquisition of a portion of the private land to facilitate uninterrupted progress.
With the Stage-1 clearance from MoEF&CC in place, the BMC is moving ahead with preparatory work, including land acquisition and clearances. However, actual construction in CRZ areas will only commence after receiving formal working permission from the Bombay High Court.
Bangar emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in non-CRZ zones while simultaneously completing the required procedures in CRZ areas to ensure the timely execution of the project.
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