Mumbai: South Bound road of Mumbai Coastal road has been opened up for the public on Monday. It would be a great relief for the citizens of Mumbai who used to be stuck in the heavy traffic for hours. Normally, a car takes around 35-40 minutes to reach marine lines from Worli. Now that distance can be cut to 9-10 minutes after opening up of the south bound road of the coastal road.
The inauguration of the coastal road was done by Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde along with DCM Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar on Monday. Many vintage car owners enjoyed their driving on the Coastal road. Many fishermen were present wearing traditional dresses. BEST had also arranged double-decker buses for the local fishermen. Shinde-Fadnavis-Pawar showed the green flags to vehicles.
CM Shinde called Coastal road an engineering marvel because many advanced technologies and techniques were used for the construction of the twin tunnels, bridges and safety of the people. He also announced that the Coastal road will be known as ' Dharamveer Swarajyarakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road' a statue of Sambhaji Maharaj will also be installed on the proper place, Shinde said.
Shinde also took potshots at Uddhav Thackeray and said, "Some people were claiming on social media that they had initiated the coastal project but I want to ask why hurdles were created and why speed breakers were laid in the project. They only delayed the project. project." While praising Devendra Fadnvias, CM Shinde said, "Who had brought permissions for the coastal road and who fought cases in HC and SC to start the project."
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He also held the previous MVA government responsible for the delay of the project. "After all one should need lion heart to give credit of work to others but bad attitude man can't do that," Shinde further said. "Uddhav gave many reason not to increase the span between two pillars at Worli for local Koli people but after becoming CM, I had directed BMC Commissioner Chahal and directed him to spend more money and increase the span between two pillars and give relief to local fishermen community. It was decided that MSRDC or MMRDA will construct the coastal road project but somebody forced that BMC will do the project."
Shinde also ensured that no construction will be done on the 300 acre open land around the coastal road, only Central park and greenery will be developed on the reclaimed land for the recreation of citizens.
Moreover, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "There are many projects like Coastal road, Metro, Atal setu and underground tunnel are under construction to minimise vehicular traffic. Hurdles come in between the work but positive attitude can bring you out of the difficulties." Pawar also announced that no toll will be collected on the coastal road. He also emphasised that greenery will be maintained in every government project.
Apart from Shinde-Fadnavis and Pawar, Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora, Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha, MP Rahul Shewale, MLA Sada Sarvankar, BMC Commissioner Dr. Iqbalsingh Chahal,, Additional Commissioner Ashiwini Bhide and Ashwini Joshi were also present during the ceremony.
According to BMC the second northbound road of the coastal road will be finished till May 2024.
Pointers:
1) The entire stretch of the Coastal Road is 10.58 km out of that 9.5 km road would be made operational from Monday.
2) The total Cost of the project is around 14 thousand crores.
3) total vehicular lanes of the Coastal road are eight. Four lane on each side
4) There are six lanes in twin tunnels. three in one tunnel
5) Maximum Speed limit is 80 kmph, in tunnels 60 kmph and at interchanges 40 kmph
6) fuel saving up to 34 per cent which will help to reduce carbon emission.
7) Reduction in noise and air pollution
8) Dedicated bus lanes to take load off heavy traffic
9) Amarsons, Haji Ali and Worli are the three interchanges
10) 4 car parking units which has capacity of 1800 parking lots
11) There are 20 pedestrian under passes
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