Let BMC develop eastern coast: Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Shiv Sena, the ruling party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has demanded that the civic body should be allowed to develop the eastern coast in the city. The BMC would develop the coast land for public use if the state or Centre cannot do it, said Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

“Mumbai has two coasts – western and eastern. The coastal road project is coming up on the western coast. However, about 900 acres of land is lying unused on the eastern coast and it can be used for public projects like ocean park, marine museum etc. Either, the state or Centre should develop it or give the work to the BMC. It can be used to increase open spaces in the city,” Mr Thackeray said.

The bhoomipujan of Mumbai coastal road project was carried out at the hands of Sena chief at Amarsons Garden, Cumballa Hill, on Sunday.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Thackeray said “The space on eastern coast belongs to agencies like Mazgaon Dock, Navy, etc. But it has been either encroached upon or used for junkyard. The BMC can develop it to increase open spaces in the city,” he said.

BMC chief Ajoy Mehta said that the coastal road project would increase the open spaces in the city by 2.5 percent. “Mumbai has 3500 hectares of open space in the city. The coastal road would provide 90 hectares of open space worth `26,000 crore to the city. However, it would only be used for public use purposes,” he added.

Mr Mehta added that the project would also save nearly 34 per cent of fuel in the city and it will be completed in next four years.

Raj visits fishermen
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited fishermen from Worli Koliwada, who are claiming that their fishing activities would be affected by the coastal road project. “The MNS is not against the coastal road project. But if it is affecting the livelihood of fishermen, we will stand by them,” he said. However, during the bhoomipujan ceremony, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray made it clear that the project would not affect the local fishermen.