Mumbai: Travel by car to Gorai from Borivli in just 5 minutes

If everything falls into place as per the plans chalked out by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA then motorists will be able to travel directly from Borivli to Gorai in about five minutesMMRDA officials claimed once both the bridges are built it will offer locals proper access to Mumbai And also to tourists visiting the weekend destinations such as EsselWorld Global Pagoda and Manori It has been learnt that the MMRDA has renewed its interest to construct a bridge 12 km long over Gorai Creek to connect Borivli and EsselWorld mdash a major tourist attraction mdash helping motorists cover the distance in just a few minutes rather than taking the existing 45minutelong detour via Mira Road and Bhayander Besides plans are also being made to construct a similar bridge 11kmlong between Marve and ManoriOfficialspeakSpeaking to midday MMRDA Commissioner UPS Madan said ldquoThe local representatives have shown keen interest in the development of the bridges and so we will build them We would soon be appointing a consultant for preparing the Detailed Project Report DPR for both the bridges and their construction will be completed in the next three yearsrdquoConnectivity issuesCurrently commuters and tourists travelling to EsselWorld and Manori either rely on ferries or take the road which is a longer route Even the locals rue improper access to Mumbai particularly in times of medical emergencies Moreover inadequate connectivity has adversely impacted the quality and quantity of civic services offered by the BMC and the MBMC in the region especially solid waste managementldquoOnce the bridges are built it will offer locals proper access to Mumbai Also tourists visiting these weekend destinations EsselWorld Manori and Global Pagoda will save on fuel and timerdquo said an MMRDA official ldquoSince the ManoriBhayander route is the only entry and exit point it is a cause of concern Traffic congestion is witnessed when motorists passes through tiny village settlementsrdquoStating that the bridges were the need of the hour another MMRDA official claimed the existing jetties were underdeveloped and acted as mere access pointsldquoFerries operating here are lowend making commuting an unpleasant experience But considering the population growth and tourist influx in the coming decade it is necessary to connect both the areas to Mumbairdquo the official addedLocal oppositionProtests were held in 2009 and 2012 after MMRDA invited expressions of interest for designing and constructing the bridges In 2009 former petroleum minister Ram Naik had led a delegation of angry locals opposing any infrastructure projects in the region to the MMRDA office Later during the 2012 protest residents claimed that a bridge over the MarveManori Creek would adversely impact mangrove forests and fishing activity in the regionIn the past locals had also opposed formation of a Special Economic Zone and a solid waste recycling plant in the area following which the recycling plant was relocated to Ghodbunder Road near VersovaAlso acquisition of land to increase the width of the road leading up to the bridges and rehabilitation of Project Affected People PAPs are a few of the challenges the stateled development body will have to overcome to execute the projects45mins Current time taken to travel to EsselWorld from Borivli via road 5mins Time needed once the new bridge is constructed 90mins Time taken by commuters to travel from Marve to Manori via road at present5mins Time required upon completion of the bridge