Mumbai: Cable bridge linking Madh and Versova gets CRZ clearance

The proposed cablestayed bridge between Versova and Madh has received Coastal Regulation Zone CRZ clearance from the ministry of environment forest and climate change Similar structures at Dharivali village on Marve road and Goregaon creek also received CRZ clearance It will be a long time before they become a reality as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC requires noobjection certificates NOC from the Bombay High Court and forest department before floating tendersThe 15kmlong MadhVersova bridgeThe bridge between Madh and Versova has been in the planning stage for many years To cut down travel time and reduce traffic jams the BMC had proposed the construction of six bridges in the western suburbs in the 202122 budgetmdasha MadhVersova bridge which would link Malad and Andheri the connector between Marve and Manori a bridge over the Malad creek and Oshiwara river a bridge over Ramchandra nullah at Evershine Nagar in Malad a connector between Lagoon Road and Infinity Mall in Malad and the aforementioned Marve road bridge at Dharivali Out of these permission for Ramchandra nullah one was granted in 2022 and tenders were invited for the Lagoon Road bridgeBMC SpeakldquoThe CRZ clearance is the big step forward but we need NOCs from the high court and forest department before floating tendersrdquo said a civic officialAfter CRZ clearance the BMC needs to get the approval of the Bombay High Court for mangrove cutting fivetime compensatory afforestation and the forest departmentrsquos clearanceCurrently the distance between Versova and Madh Island is 20 km and accessible by either ferry or road via Kandivli Link Road According to officials the 15km bridge from Madh to Versova will cut down travel time from 45 to 15 minutes The proposed bridge behind Bhagat Singh Nagar across Goregaon creek will be a cablestayed design The vehicular bridge measuring 512 metres in length and 2695 metres in width is intended to alleviate congestion on key arterial routes including the Western Express Highway and New Link RoadThe proposed Dharivali bridge which has received CRZ clearanceThe proposed sites for all these bridges fall under the CRZ areas At a few locations reserved mangroves and forest patches could also be affected Considering these aspects the BMC had finalised a consultant in March 2021 to conduct an environment impact study to get various environmentrelated clearances from the ministry of environment forest and climate change the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Authority MCZMA the forest department and the Bombay High Court to remove mangroves The MCZMA while deferring proposals for five bridges cleared the way for the proposed Ramchandra nullah bridge in February 2022Meeting scheduledThe K West ward of the BMC sent letters to local fisherfolk associations to discuss the socioeconomic impact of the Manori bridge on fishing points The meeting will be held at the K West office on February 14 According to the letters the BMC will present the design of the proposed bridge and will take note of any suggestions and objections from residentsStatus of six bridgesgtgt MadhVersova bridge Received CRZ clearancegtgt Bridge on Ramchandra nullah at Evershine Nagar Received MCZMA clearancegtgt Lagoon Road to Infinity Mall bridge Tender invitedgtgt Bridge on Marve Road in Dharivali Received CRZ clearancegtgt ManoriMarve bridge Yet to get MCZMA clearancegtgt Bridge over Malad creek and Oshiwara river Yet to get MCZMA clearance