The proposed Virar–Alibaug Multimodal Corridor is set to significantly alter a Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) affordable housing project planned at Shirdhon in Kalyan, as part of the land earmarked for homes will be acquired for the transport link. Around five hectares from the site, originally reserved for Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), and Middle Income Group (MIG) housing, will be taken over for the corridor, requiring a major redesign of the project.
According to reports, the approved alignment of the corridor cuts directly across the Shirdhon plot. A land strip measuring roughly 500 metres in length and 100 metres in width is expected to be acquired, effectively splitting the housing parcel into two separate sections. This will prevent MHADA from developing the site as a single, integrated housing layout, as originally planned.
With the corridor running through the middle of the land, planners will now have to redesign the housing scheme and construct residential buildings on both sides of the proposed route. This could affect internal road planning, open spaces, utilities, and overall project efficiency, potentially leading to delays and higher implementation costs. Officials are expected to rework the layout to ensure that the affordable housing component remains viable despite the reduced and divided land availability.
The Virar–Alibaug Multimodal Corridor is a large-scale regional connectivity project intended to improve east–west and north–south movement across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Stretching approximately 126 kilometres, the corridor is designed to accommodate road traffic, rail services, and bus rapid transit through dedicated lanes, significantly reducing travel times across Palghar, Thane, and Raigad districts.
The first phase of the corridor, covering around 96.4 kilometres, passes through key growth zones where land availability is already under pressure. The impact on the Shirdhon housing project highlights the broader challenge of balancing large transport infrastructure with the delivery of affordable housing. As authorities move ahead, careful coordination between urban development and transport planning will be critical to ensure that connectivity gains do not come at the cost of much-needed housing supply.
Source: The Free Press Journal
