PIU to be established for Phase 1 of Virar-Alibaug

Mumbai: A decision to establish the project implementation unit (PIU) for phase one of the Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor was taken Wednesday at the MMRDA meeting. Phase one stretches from Navghar in Virar to Belavali village in Panvel. The PIU formation will help in various tasks related to the project such as land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of project-affected families, appointment of contractors, handling of legal hassles, coordination with different state and central government entities for various permissions, security arrangements etc.

“We will start with the work of phase one now; it will pass through many highways including NH17, NH3, NH8 and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. It will also pass railway lines such as the freight corridor and the Virar-Panvel line,” said Sanjay Khandare, additional metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA.

“Phase two (Belavali to Alibaug) will be started after completion of phase one. The work for it will take around four to five years’ time,” he said.

The Rs 22,300 crore project will be funded by the World Bank, for which, the MMRDA has already received an in-principle nod.