Mumbai: The proposed Uttan-Virar coastal road, part of a larger 55.84-km corridor planned by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is expected to impact nearly 5 acres of mangrove land. To offset the ecological loss, the agency has proposed compensatory plantation of mangroves across 190 acres — almost 40 times the area likely to be affected.
The corridor, envisioned as a seamless coastal link from South Mumbai to the northern suburbs, will extend the existing coastal road network beyond Marine Drive to Bhayander and further up to Virar. The project is currently awaiting an environmental clearance, even as a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared. MMRDA officials said the road alignment was carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption to ecologically sensitive areas. “Only 4.94 acres of mangroves will be affected, limited to the footprint required for pile caps of elevated sections,” a senior official said.
To further reduce the impact, the authority has proposed an advanced flyover system supported by 60-metre span pillars, which significantly cuts down the number of mangroves that need to be felled. However, this has resulted in a rise in construction costs. If cleared, the coastal road is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity between the island city and far-flung suburbs.
