BMC refuses to change Coastal Road design

Mumbai: Although the residents of south Mumbai are up in arms against the design of the coastal road, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asserts that it is too late to change the design.

“It is impossible to change any design for the coastal road at this time as not only work orders have been given but a slight change in design also mig-ht cost crores of rupees,” said a senior BMC officer for the coastal road requesting anonymity.

The officer said, “The design plan has been published since July 2015 and explained to residents whenever asked. All doubts have been resolved and residents are protesting now realising the scenic beauty of their houses will be affected.”

However, the residents are demanding to stop work until their questions about traffic management, need for reclamation etc. are answered. The residents are protesting the 90 hectares of land to be reclaimed for the coastal road, citing environmental hazards. Around 100 south Mumbai residents organised a march from Tata garden to Priya-darshani Park to protest the reclamation for the coastal road. However, the police stopped the protest.

Zoru Bathena, the activ-ist who was also part of the protest, said, “We asked the engineers on site for copies of required permissions, but they failed to show.”

However, the BMC officer said, “The reclamation is being done as per permissions under the CRZ’s rules and technical advisory committee. While, all copies of permissions have been uploaded on the website.” If contractors does not hold the hard copy, the residents can file a complaint against him.”