30.11.12

MoEF & Mumbai's Infrastructure


PROJECTS THAT HAVE GOT GREEN LIGHT...

Navi Mumbai International Airport : The proposed Rs.9,000 cr project near Panvel creek has got environmental clearance. Project work is yet to begin though, as it is awaiting civil aviation consent. The project is aimed at decongesting existing Mumbai airport

Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link : The Rs.9,600 cr project, to connect Nhava Sheva and Sewri with a 22 km sea bridge to decongest Mumbai and divert traffic towards Navi Mumbai, has been granted clearance. The environment ministry has asked the state to carry out construction with silencer-fitted machines and special lighting so that migratory birds don’t get disturbed. It has also demanded noise barriers along the bridge

Bandra-Versova sea link : The 10km Rs.4,000 cr link has got clearance with a rider that there won’t be any reclamation of land along the coast. The project will reduce one-and-half hour travel time to 25 minutes The project, though, clashes with CM Prithviraj Chavan’s plan to create cheaper coastal roads than costly links
 
Eastern Freeway between Colaba and Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road : The 22 km link has got environmental clearance for construction near Sewri mudflats. The Rs.600 cr project is party funded by the Centre

AND THOSE THAT ARE YET TO SECURE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE....

Passenger water transport project : The Rs.1,150 cr project, which will offer catamarans and hovercraft between Nariman Point and Borivli, is not yet cleared

Pedder Road flyover : A Rs.200 cr flyover project proposed between Haji Ali and Marine Drive requires environmental clearance as Pedder Road residents have expressed fears that it will create noise and air pollution. The ministry wants the state to submit a plan to counter pollution threats

Coastal road plan between Malad-Kandivli and Cuffe Parade : The Rs.9,000 cr, 36 km road will stretch from Nariman Point to Malad-Kandivli and will have eight entry and exit points. It has not got environmental clearance as involves huge reclamation

Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd metro rail : The Rs.8,000 cr, 30 km project requires setting up of car depots at Charkop and Mankhurd near coastal areas for which environmental clearance is awaited. In the absence of clearances, the project will become costlier and thus may not take off

Passenger water transport project for Mumbai
OVER THE YEARS
40 years ago, consultants Louis Berger and LEA Associates first came up with the idea of water transport in Mumbai
2005 : MSRDC finally decided to start the project along the west coast from Nariman Point to Borivli. The project, though, ran into hurdles with Satyagiri Shipping, which was to implement it
2008 : MSRDC cancelled the contract
2009 : It invited fresh tenders. Around 26 companies bid for the project but demanded more time to submit their bids citing economic slowdown
2010: Pratibha Constructions was shortlisted after it outbid Kakade Engineering, but somehow work order was not issued within stated time frame
January 2012 : In addition to creating infrastructure, the project involved operation of services. Experts, though, feared the arrangement would not work if commuter response was poor. Separate contracts were floated
July 2012 : Separate tenders for boat operations and terminal construction were won by J Kumar, Sadbhav-HCC and Supreme-DBM. Only work order was to be issued

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