Mumbai: While the construction of the 35-km-long Coastal Road project between Princess Street flyover and Kandivali originally proposed in 2010 is stuck over political fight, a closer look at the project cost indicates that it has increased by almost 100 per cent from Rs 6,000 crore in 2010-11 to now costing around over Rs 12,000 crore.
The project is being executed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and is being used by Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during campaigning for the upcoming civic polls to woo voters. However, the project cost seems to have three versions: when announced in 2010, it was pegged at Rs 6,000 crore; however, in 2012 a joint technical committee under former BMC chief Subodh Kumar pegged it at Rs 8,000 crore, and then a newer figure of Rs 12,000 crore, according to the updated detailed project report (DPR) by BMC of 2016.
Ajoy Mehta, municipal commissioner, said, “I agree that the cost has witnessed changes in the years but let me tell you that estimated cost in such projects are very hypothetical and are based on several studies and the same may even come down after the project reaches the stage where financial bids are opened.”
Mr Mehta added, “One of the reasons for changes in the project cost is also changes in the design. In these many years, there have been several changes in terms of design and alignment of the project.” When this correspondent asked, whether the cost could also increase in the near future with time passing, Mr Mehta nodded in affirmation.
The BMC already suffered major setbacks, as there has been a delay in getting environmental approvals for the project from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and that of the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF).
To overcome, this, BMC had also requested MoEF last year to give an overall approval to the project and delegate powers to a sate level authority to allow changes without going through the Centre. However, there has been no update on the request of BMC by MoEF.
It is believed the eight-lane project with two dedicated bus lanes for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) will decongest traffic in the city. It is also touted as a solution to traffic congestion in the stretch between South Mumbai and western suburbs.
