MMRDA wants Coastal Road extended to Virar

To improve north-south connectivity, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has suggested to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) that the proposed 33.5km long Coastal Road between Nariman Point and Kandivali be extended up to Virar.

MMRDA has suggested to the civic body that this be included in the proposed revised Development Plan (2014-2034) in addition to proposing the same in its draft regional plan 2016-2036 of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Uma Adusumilli, chief of planning, MMRDA, said, “We have included the proposal in our regional plan and also suggested to the BMC to add the same in its DP. The reason behind having it extended till Virar is that it will result in seamless connectivity between the northern and southern end.”

“At various places, there is already a road that exists and extending is like joining the missing links,” she added.

The project is pegged at Rs 11,000 crore and will connect Kandivali to Marine Lines by sea link, elevated road and roads on reclaimed land.

Vivek More, deputy chief engineer, DP, said, “The decision on the alignment can be taken by us only if it is taken at the state government level. Also, when it comes to BMC, we can only work within our jurisdiction.”

According to MMRDA, the proposal also finds mention in its proposed regional plan for MMR, and will serve as inspiration for urban local bodies like that of Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar to have the same in their respective development plans.