Mumbai: Eight months into the Coastal Road Project, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has invited the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to study the impact on marine life and the fishing industry, at a cost of Rs 42.40 lakh. A proposal will be tabled at the standing committee meeting to be held on Friday.
An interim report will be presented within four months of the approval of the proposal. The Coastal Road Project will cause huge losses to the fishermen of Lotus Jetty, Worli, Worli, Bandra, Juhu, and Moragaon.
The BMC decided to conduct a detailed study only after being directed to do so by the Bombay High Court. The ICAR-CMFRI study will focus on the impact of the project on coastal resources and sea fisheries and suggest measures to reduce the impact on fishermen’s livelihood.
Earlier, work on the project work was halted after a stay was imposed by the high court, but later, work was started again after the Supreme Court ruled that the existing work could be completed but no fresh work could be begun.
The 9.9-km coastal road will link Marine Drive to the southern end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and include an undersea tunnel from Marine Lines near Princess Street flyover to Priyadarshini Park. Construction began in October 2018, and is expected to be completed in four years.
