Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the Mavala Tunnel Boring Machine just a week ago, but officials have only managed to bore nine meters of the tunnel. Related officials have said that the machine’s speed will see an increase gradually, adding that work on one of the twin tunnels will be concluded by October 2021.
Officials also said that the tunnel boring project will produce four lakh cubic meters of muck with 70% of it reportedly going towards the construction of the road.
An official who chose to remain anonymous said, “One tunnel is expected to be completed by this September or October. The machine is currently boring about 1 metre each day but the cutting speed will gradually increase. However, even the muck to be collected will be brought up once the machine completes boring about 300 to 400 metres.”
Read - CM Thackeray Launches Coastal Road Tunnel Boring Machine
As for land reclamation towards the project, sources quoted by mid-day have said that the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) had asked the Centre to approve reclamation of 21 hectares (ha) of land.
Also read - BMC Receives Approval For Additional Land Reclamation
“We have completed about 75 hectares of reclamation so far, and if we receive the Centre’s NOC in time, we may be able to finish the reclamation work by April,” said Vijay Nigot, Chief Engineer of the Coastal Road Project.
In the event of a delay in receiving the approval, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will finish 90 ha of reclamation as per the approved designs of the project.
The Coastal Road Project has faced several hurdles along the way, with many questioning the impact it will have on the local ecology. Civic officials have migrated some coral colonies that were on the path of the project, while nearly 600 trees are expected to be impacted by the project.
Read - BMC To Cut 140 Trees For Coastal Road Project. Where Is This Heading?
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