Navi Mumbai: Kharghar Coastal Road Project Moves Ahead Despite Resident Concerns

Residents of Belapur are calling for revisions to the Kharghar Coastal Road’s alignment as work on the project, which will connect Jalmarg Sector 16 in Kharghar to Belapur and then to Nerul, approaches completion. Under the direction of former Airoli MLA Sandeep Naik, a group of citizens met with CIDCO MD Vijay Singhal last week to discuss their issues.

The locals say that the Kharghar-Belapur Coastal Road was originally intended to be a coastal route but was subsequently changed to an inland one. Residents of Belapur are against this development because they believe it will disturb their tranquil environment and affect the vegetation they have cultivated for more than 20 years.

The project’s potential to destroy the green belt is one of their main worries. They are also concerned that traffic jams will be caused by the road’s routing through specific Belapur and Nerul neighbourhoods, especially close to the NRI DPS School.

Although they are in favour of growth, Sandeep Naik stressed that it shouldn’t come at the expense of annoyance to the general public. “We asked CIDCO to make sure the construction of the road doesn’t negatively impact the locals,” he stated.

The tree belt would not be damaged during construction, bottlenecks would be avoided, and a follow-up conference with the engineering department would be arranged to discuss potential solutions, Naik continued, citing assurances from CIDCO MD Vijay Singhal.

Soon after the procurement procedure is over, work on the Kharghar Coastal Road project is expected to start. With an offer of ₹1,020.7 crore, the lowest of the three competitors, J Kumar Infraprojects won the contract for the 9.6-kilometer project. Early in January, technically qualified enterprises opened their financial bids.

Through an interchange on the Sion-Panvel Highway, this vital infrastructure project will give inhabitants of Kharghar and Panvel, as well as visitors from Pune, direct access to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Even with the monsoon season included, the project should be finished in 30 months.

The 9.679-kilometer project, which is overseen by CIDCO, includes 2.986 kilometres of existing roadways. Land reclamation and stilt construction will be included in the new parts. From Jalmarg Sector 16, the road will lead to the PMAY Housing Scheme next to Kharghar Railway Station. From there, it would continue to the underpass close to Delhi Public School in Nerul. It will connect Kharghar Station and Belapur by running parallel to NMIA.

The entire duration, including the monsoon season, is 913 days. The first 90 days will be spent on design, approvals, and proof-checking, while the remaining 823 days will be spent on construction and handover, according to a CIDCO spokesperson.

A CIDCO spokesman said, “This road will greatly improve connectivity between NMIA, the Nerul Water Terminal, and Kharghar, as well as the International Corporate Park being developed in the area, similar to Bandra-Kurla Complex.” Additionally, it is anticipated that the route will reduce traffic on the Sion-Panvel Highway.

Source: Lokmat Times

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