HT: Redesign Peddar Road flyover: Greens: July 10, 2008 | Mumbai Projects by Government

Hindustan Times follow-up - Redesign Peddar Road flyover: Greens...........Ketaki Ghoge Mumbai

THE CITY'S most talked-about fly- over, the proposed one at Peddar Road, is back on the drawing board - nearly eight years after it was mooted. On Wednesday, the flyover once again failed the environment test when the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Manage- ment Authority sent the proposal back asking the agency executing the project, the MSRDC, to redesign the viaduct so it does not intrude on Gir- gaum Chowpathy .

You can now forget speeding along this elevated road. Given MSRDC's past track record, the flyover is unlikely to be completed any time soon.

In 2006, MCZMA, state agency that oversees all coastal construction activities, had rejected permission to the flyover on similar grounds.

"It's best if the viaduct is contained in the road space without spilling onto the beach. The bend at Chowpathy can be sharper even if this reduces speed of the cars," admitted T.C. Benjamin, principal secretary of Urban Develop- ment Department and member of the MCZMA.

The authority has asked MSRDC to redesign the flyover, which currently juts 7 meters into the beach and pegs pillars on the Chowpathy area.

MCZMA has in its meeting decided that if the MSRDC for technical reasons cannot do the needful then it can come once again before the committee for a clearance.

The Rs 135 crore flyover has been a non-starter since it was first conceived of in 2001. It earned maximum attention after the famous Peddar Road residents, singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsale.

The other controversial project of a helipad atop Mukesh Ambani's 19storey residence at Cuffe Parade was also not resolved by the MCZMA. The committee put the ball in the court of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) stating that the permission for a helipad could be given only by the Centre.

Last month, MOEF had stayed its approval to the project stating that the project came under Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) area.

The letter by MOEF had said that firm, Ruchi Properties Private Limited in its letter for permission had not mentioned applicability of CRZ. Hindustan Times had first reported on this.

The committee also recommended that the environment department study the angle of noise pollution because of this project.

Projects in trouble

PEDDAR ROAD FLYOVER

The Peddar Road flyover once again failed the environment test, when the coastal zone authority sent a proposal to MSRDC to redesign the flyover, the plan for which currently has it jutting 7 meters into the beach.

MCZMA had denied permission to the flyover on similar grounds in 2006.

The Rs 135 crore flyover has been a non-starter since it was first conceived of in 2001.

AMBANI HELIPAD

The fate of Mukesh Ambani's helipad continues to hang fire as the MCZMA put the ball in the court of the Ministry of Environment, saying permission can be given only by the Centre.

MOEF had stayed approval for the project stating that the area came under CRZ norms.

MMRDA WILL FUND NHAVA SEALINK

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday decided that the MMRDA would fund the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, which will be built by the MSRDC.

"The state cabinet committee on infrastructure on Wednesday officially made a decision to that effect," PWD Minister Anil Deshmukh said.

MMRDA, due to its deep pockets, has been designated as the nodal agency for raising the Rs 6,000 crore needed to build the 22-km sealink.

MMRDA is contemplating raising half the money as debt, which can be sourced from institutions like Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, and the remaining through equity contributed by MMRDA, MSRDC, CIDCO and private players.