July 4, 2025: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted Stage 1 (in-principle) approval for the north phase of the ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project, which aims to connect Versova to Bhayandar. This key clearance marks a significant milestone in the infrastructure initiative, allowing environmental adjustments involving mangrove forest areas.
The north phase—estimated at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore—is divided into six distinct packages, covering stretches from Versova to Dahisar, and includes an elevated corridor extending to Bhayandar. The project will feature interchanges, twin tunnels, and elevated roads, many of which traverse through land, creeks, and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
Approximately 8.24 hectares of mangrove forest land will be permanently diverted for the project, with nearly 9,000 mangrove trees to be cut and over 36,000 expected to be affected. In response, the Mumbai Mangrove Cell (MMC) has prepared a compensatory afforestation plan involving the planting of over 1.37 lakh new mangrove saplings, the establishment of a mangrove nursery, and the restoration of 31 hectares in Bhayandar Gaon. Additionally, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will transfer equivalent non-forest land to support forest development.
The project is expected to drastically reduce the current travel time between Versova and Bhayandar from 90–120 minutes to just 20 minutes, offering significant relief from Mumbai’s traffic congestion. The BMC has already obtained the necessary CRZ clearances and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from central and state authorities, with construction expected to begin following final High Court permissions.
Source: Prop News Time
