The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is thinking about building a police station and public restrooms at the location of a temporary slurry treatment (ST) facility next to Girgaon Chowpatty and Marine Drive as part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP).
The civic body has appointed an environmental consultancy to assess the feasibility of the proposal and secure the necessary No-Objection Certificate (NOC) under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines.
The 10.58-km coastal road extends from the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, incorporating multi-level interchanges at key points such as Haji Ali, Peddar Road (Amarsons Garden), and Worli Sea Face.
Larsen & Toubro, the contractors responsible for the project, had set up a temporary ST plant to process the silt excavated during tunnelling between the Princess Street Flyover and Priyadarshini Park. With the project nearing completion, the civic authorities are now considering repurposing the site for essential public amenities. M/s Building Environment India Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed to obtain the required CRZ clearance for constructing the toilets within the regulated zone.
A civic official stated, “The consultant is also tasked with overseeing the construction of a walkway between Lotus Jetty and Vadodara Palace, which will include a protective wall. Additionally, they will evaluate the feasibility of reinforcing the wall and securing CRZ approval for this work.”
Meanwhile, a 550-metre vehicular underpass (VUP) designed to ease traffic for motorists travelling from Dadar and Prabhadevi towards the coastal road is set to open next month. Furthermore, a 7.5-km Marine Drive-style promenade, featuring jogging tracks, seating areas, and green spaces, will be unveiled by May 2025, stretching from Priyadarshini Park to Worli.
The BMC also intends to create a picturesque observation deck to the promenade next to the famous Haji Ali. The deck will be built to blend in well with the surroundings and extend around three meters from the promenade. To ensure that the structure improves the promenade’s overall appearance, a consultant has been hired to design it.
Source: The Free Press Journal
