Good News! Uttan-Virar sea bridge gets green nod

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has approved the Uttan-Virar sea link road project to be built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The BJP-led grand alliance government is fast-tracking the project to enhance connectivity with the Vadhan Port mega-project in Palghar.

The proposed sea link road, with three connectors at Uttan in Thane district and Vasai and Virar in Palghar district, was submitted to the MCZMA on April 9 and was approved on July 11.

The proposal will now be placed before the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for approval, said state Environment Secretary Jayshree Bhoj.

The Uttan-Virar sea link will claim 15.39 hectares of forest land covered by mangroves, in addition to 2.5 hectares of reserved forest land in the eco-sensitive area of Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.

MMRDA will acquire 208.6 hectares of private land for the project.

Documents with MMRDA show that 9,075 trees will be affected by the Sea Link connector. Out of these, 1,868 trees will be felled and 1,612 trees will be replanted and 5,595 trees will be retained.

The Uttan-Virar connector will affect 8.71 hectares of mangroves and the Virar connector will affect 6.68 hectares. This will also require the diversion of transmission lines and water pipelines. The Versova-Virar sea link project was originally planned from Versova to Virar.

However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is constructing the North Coastal Road and the Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road (DBLR). Hence, the proposed Uttan to Virar sea link will be taken up by the MMRDA.

The project includes a 24.25 km long sea bridge from Uttan to Virar. The bridge will be parallel to the coast for 1 km. It includes three connectors to improve regional connectivity.

The 9.32 km long Uttan (Mira-Bhayander) connector, which will start from an interchange near Uttan beach and will connect Mira-Bhayander with the main road near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Maidan.

The Virar connector is an 18.95 km long extension to Virar, which will start from Arnala beach and will be further connected to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.