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4. With reference to the aforenoted factual data the background note highlights that a coastal freeway would not only facilitate high travel speeds on the road but also take away traffic from the internal roads thereby enhancing vehicular movement at high speed which in turn would reduce pollution. The background note thereafter proceeds to highlight whether a coastal road could be constructed within the existing framework of laws. It noted that the current Legislation prohibited reclamation of land for constructing a coastal road and that at a meeting held on 15 April 2001 with the Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India the issue of permitting reclamation of land to construct a coastal road was discussed. The JTC noted that the current Legislation permitted jdk/pdp 21 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc construction of a coastal road on stilts. The JTC recorded that it would, therefore, consider the cost aspect of a coastal road built on stilt vis-a- vis a coastal road after reclaiming the land. The JTC thereafter highlighted the terms of reference to the JTC, being: (i) to examine the various options in the construction of a coastal road including road on stilt or sea link in Mumbai, (ii) to evaluate options on the basis of technical feasibility and environmental impact and impact on the neighbourhoods, (iii) to recommend the best option which provides improved mobility, enhances environment and leads to sustainable development of open spaces/greenery.
the koli wadas, the fish movement of boats of fisherman.
drying areas, the boat There is no issue of
parking areas Rehabilitation and Resettlement
impacting the of the fishermen communities in
fishermen south portion.
economically and
socially.
Rehabilitation and
Resettlement of the
fishermen
communities has been
ignored in the project
plan.
16 The coastal road will The proposed road is only for
be passing from the south portion and not passing
front of Bandra fort. in front of Bandra Fort. The
Bandra fort is one of proposed road will provide
the important access to the religious places
historical and like Mahalaxmi Temple and Haji
archaeological place in Ali Darga and will not cut
Mumbai. Once the off the historic site from the sea.
jdk/pdp 56 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc
coastal road is As the proposed Tunnel at
constructed the Girgaon Chowpaty is below the
unhindered view of sea bed-, hence - project will
sea will be replaced by not destroy the Girgaon
a view of the freeway. Chowpati-, or will not disturb,
It will also be passing destroy and deteriorate the
from the front of other historical and
religious places like archaeological sites of Mumbai.
Mahalaxmi temple,
Haji Ali bay.
Reclamation around
Mahalaxmi temple
will cut off the historic
site from the sea.
Though it is stated
that the project will
not destroy the
Girgaon Chowpati, it
will disturb--, destroy
and deteriorate the
other historical and
archaeological sites of
Mumbai .
17 The EIA report at The spaces generated due to
page no. 253 road on reclamation will be used
mentions that - The for ancillary facilities for the
construction of coastal road and accessibility to public
road based on transport.
reclamation would
help generate large
green spaces'. The
reclamation is illegal
as per the CRZ
Notification dated 6th
January 2011. The
proposed creation of
91 hectares of green
jdk/pdp 57 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc
spaces, would be done
by destroying the
already existing green
and open spaces.
18 The financial cost of The cost benefit ratio is 1:15.
environmental MCGM will set aside 2% of the
destruction has not project cost towards mitigation
been included in the measures.
project plan prepared
for the proposed
coastal road.
19 This road will not be The coastal road proposal has
viable for public incorporated BRTS system along
transport as past with allied facilities. The speed,
experience with sea transport system will reduce
links and expressways carbon footprint to t1826COe
has shown. The per annum.
project encourages
motorized transport
which will create more
air and noise pollution
instead of focusing on
improving public
transport facilities in
the city.
20 The peak handling MCGM has proposed toll free
capacity of the road.
Bandra-Worli Sea-link
per day is around
85,000 cars.
Currently it is
handling only around
37,500 cars which is a
gross miscalculation
and same may happen
in case of the coastal
jdk/pdp 58 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc
road if toll is levied for
travel on this road.
21 The project envisages MCGM proposed toll free road.
to free up city's highly
congested road, but
owing to the high toll
rates, the coastal road
might only be used by
the economically
strong upper strata of
the city.
22 Alternatively if toll MCGM has proposed toll free
rates are controlled road.
and are affordable
then it would lead to
congestion of the
coastal road as well
and then the issue of
decongesting traffic
would arise again.
This can be
substantiated by the
fact that the flyovers
all over the city were
built to ease the traffic
congestion, however
the state of affairs is
quite contrary and
evident to everyone.
The coastal road will
bring an additional
influx of cars into
South Mumbai, which
already struggles for
parking space,
inducing more traffic
jdk/pdp 59 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc
congestion.
23 There are also further Not in MCGM's preview.
plans to extend the
Mumbai coastal road
till Ahmedabad
through Vasai and
Virar. Such haphazard
plans will further
aggravate the
coastline-, the coastal
ecosystem, thereby
affecting the fisher
folk communities and
the livelihood of the
people. Also, this will
increase the chances of
we being climate
change refugees.
24 We request you to not Not applicable.
grant CRZ Clearance
to the proposed
coastal road project as
it will cut it will cut off
the city from the sea
and will destroy public
access to the natural
waterfront areas. In
addition it will also
mar the aesthetics of
the west coast of
Mumbai and ruin the
sea view.
(iv), item (g): 'development of greenfield airport and related activities at Navi Mumbai, and under CRZ-II after item (i.e.) item (if) was inserted namely:'development of greenfield airport and related activities at Navi Mumbai'. The argument was that after conducting scientific studies and opining that another airport was needed in the city of Mumbai, a specific amendment was made limited to the city of Mumbai since an exceptional case was made.
44. Referring to the various reports and communications between MCGM, its consultants, MCZMA and MoEF learned Senior Counsel urged that the coastal road project was always referred to as a composite project which comprised of and involves land reclamation, landfilled roads, bridges, elevated roads, tunnels, creation of open spaces to be used as green spaces with public amenities such as promenades, jogging tracks, cycling tracks, amusement parks, butterfly gardens etc. Therefrom, learned Senior Counsel urged that the stated objective of the project was two-fold. First, to reduce vehicular congestion; Second, to create open spaces and construct a road reclamation of 95.25-hectare land. Learned Senior Counsel highlighted that only 20 hectare was to jdk/pdp 69 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc be used for the road carriageway and remainders 75.25 hectares as open spaces and public amenities.
100. Learned Senior Counsel urged that the JTC report, the decision of MCZMA dated 10 June 2013, and 16 January 2016, the Social Impact Assessment Report, the EAC report dated 17 March 2017 and CRZ clearances dated 11 May 2017, all highlight that the proposal was to construct an intracity road.
101. That of the 90 hectares reclaimed land only 20 hectares would be used for road and remaining 90 hectares for parts etc., would not result in the dominant purpose being changed because open green spaces were the result and consequences of the coastal road. That the coastal road had to have a gentle curve and not sharp kinks was to cause the least impact on tidal movement. As per learned counsel, the alignment drawings prepared by M/s STUP Consultants (the DPR Consultant) graphically shows the green areas only arise incidentally to the sharper curvature of the coastline as opposed to the gentle curves of the Coastal jdk/pdp 130 wpl.560.19.gr.j.doc Road. It is only this additional reclaimed land which is not required for the coastal road that is proposed to be used as open green spaces and recreational facilities.