Work on citizen services and recreational facilities along the coastal road to begin soon

The Supreme Court on Monday, October 3, 2022, permitted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to continue constructing the citizen services and recreational facilities proposed along the ongoing coastal road project. The decision regarding the same was passed recently and with this move, the BMC, which halted the construction of the project, can resume the construction work again.

A report regarding this was published in the Hindustan Times, which quoted an official from the coastal road project, who confirmed that it would take another two years to complete the same. Reports state that the authorities will float a tender for the same and once finalised, the project will begin as planned, and this will take a total of 24 months or more to complete the same. 

The body is also planning to finish other projects along the coastal road simultaneously. According to the proposal, facilities like gardens, butterfly, parks, and other amenities for the benefit of citizens will be developed. 

Back in 2019, the Supreme Court instructed the BMC to stop the construction facilities of the coastal road project and the same order was upheld until October 2022. However, in July 2022, the body sought permission to resume the construction of citizen facilities once again. Meanwhile, after a long wait, the court, on Friday, September 30, said that the project cannot stop due to reasons like climate change or sustainable development.  

Another note shared by the concerned officials mentioned that approximately 30% of the reclaimed area, as per the project plan, will be used for coastal roads. The remaining will be used for recreational services and citizen facilities which also include  marine walkway, toilets, cycle track, jogging track children's park and other footpath-related pedestrian plans which will help citizens in crossing the roads and make the most of these facilities. 

Officials have also appointed a specific body to construct a 7.5km stretch of seaside promenade between Malabar Hill and Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Once completed, this will be the largest seaside walkway in Mumbai. Besides this, the body is also talking about developing facilities which can accommodate over 1,850 vehicles.