The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has closed sections of Girgaum Chowpatty beach owing to Mumbai coastal road work, which has been going on along the sea front. As per officials, part of the beach which is near the viewing gallery constructed by BMC was shut to the public on November 7.
Explaining the reason for barricading the portion of the beach, officials stated that it was due to a shaft that they will be making for accommodating a drainage pump, which will be underground.
However, environmentalists have raised objections and demanded that the civic body stop encroaching and destroying the coast under the garb of developing a road.
They have also warned that a complaint will be filed with coastal authorities if any violations are found in the work being done.
Moreover, activists asked if the authorities are working for construction of a shaft, why restrict public access to the sea front. Besides, they also attributed The work on the beach as completely illegal.
BMC must stop encroaching and destroying our natural beaches and coast in the garb of developing a road. Infrastructure at cost of nature is not development, it is pure destruction, activists added.
The water which will accumulate in the tunnel going below Girgaum beach will be drained out through it. Work on it is expected to take seven months. At the site which has been cordoned off, there have been red flags placed dissuading the public from entering the area, officials further exclaimed.
The civic body assured that the character of the beach would stay unchanged and that once work is completed, it will be opened up for public.
The coastal road's first phase (a stretch of 10.58 km) is being constructed by the BMC from Princess Street flyover at Marine Drive to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The road will have two tube twin tunnels of 2.07 km connecting Girgaum Chowpatty to Malabar Hill. The tunnels will run below Girgoan Chowpatty passing below Tambe Chowk, Khilachand Garden, Hanging Garden (BMC's Malabar Hill reservoir) and Hyderabad Estate at Nepean Sea Road, before coming out at Priyadarshani Park.
The project aims to connect south Mumbai to the Worli-end of Bandra-Worli sea link, and BMC has completed 65% of its work.
Two tube twin tunnels of 2.07km each is being constructed. The tunnels will start near Girgaum beach in South Mumbai, run below Girgaum beach, passing below Tambe Chowk, Khilachand Garden, Malabar Hill reservoir of BMC, Hanging Garden, Hyderabad Estate at Nepean Sea Road, before coming out at Priyadarshani Park. A civic official said the underground tunnel would require motorists to pass through a cut and cover tunnel at the entry and exit points.
While the actual tunnel would be only 2.07km, including the entire entry and exit portions of it, its length would run up to 3.4km.
Share
Tweet
