Bridges will spoil the prestine feel of the area, they say
Mumbai : Locals of Gorai and Manori islands on Tuesday protested in the headquarters of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) demanding the two proposed bridges over the Marve-Manori creek be dropped. The locals fear that the projects, which are meant to provide better connectivity between the mainland and Manori, Gorai villages, will spoil the pristine feel of the area.
The proposed bridges will start from Gorai in Borivali and Marve in Malad to Manori. Currently, motorists have to travel approximately 25 km to get to Manori using the road via Mira-Bhayander and Uttan Gaon. “We don’t want the two bridges; the MMRDA did not consult the locals before deciding to go ahead with the project. We are happy with the way it is connected with the mainland. It’s a plan for tourists and to add more vehicles on our roads,” argued Nicholas Almeida, a local.
The residents also claimed that a bridge over the Marve-Manori creek would adversely impact mangrove forests and fishing activity in the region. The locals also fear that improved connectivity will attract builders to the area. “We don’t want builders to come and start their activities there,” said Neville D’souza, manager of the Gorai fishermen’s association.
Meanwhile, MMRDA is yet to decide on the fate of the project. Metropolitan Commissioner, UPS Madan, said: “The locals do not want the bridges. We did take suggestions and objections from the locals–some of the suggestions have been incorporated—before mooting the project. In fact, we had got requests from the local representatives of the area. If there were any further concerns, their public representatives could have conveyed it to us during our meetings.”
