Residents of Mumbai’s Juhu neighbourhood are requesting that the government reevaluate the Bandra-Versova Sea Link (BVSL) project and instead build an underwater tunnel that would preserve the city’s renowned sea view and delicate coastal ecosystem. The need is a result of growing worries about long-term urban sustainability, skyline alteration, and irreversible environmental damage.
The proposed BVSL, part of the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, is being developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) at a revised cost of Rs 18,120 crore. It is intended to connect the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to Versova, providing much-needed traffic relief for the western suburbs.
However, local residents argue that a sea link bridge will forever alter Mumbai’s scenic coastal landscape. In a press conference held on Monday, Juhu residents—including Dr Himanshu Mehta, Ummed Nahata, and Ushaben Patel—voiced their support for an underground tunnel. “An overhead bridge will be a permanent eyesore,” said Dr Mehta. “Tunnels are a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution, as seen in leading cities around the world. Though the tunnel could cost around Rs 2,000 crore more, the long-term ecological and aesthetic benefits far outweigh the investment.”
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed earlier in the Bombay High Court was quashed due to lack of documentation, but a fresh PIL has been submitted, citing environmental threats, visual pollution, and lack of long-term planning in the current BVSL approach.
About 25% of the BVSL’s civil construction has already been finished, in spite of objections. Construction is anticipated to proceed quickly following recent approvals from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA).
Mumbai’s coastal infrastructure planning may be influenced by the tunnel vs. bridge controversy as environmental awareness among the populace continues to rise.
Source: The Free Press Journal
