A group of 25 NGOs and residents’ welfare associations came together on Thursday under the common platform Apna Mumbai Abhiyan to protest big-ticket infrastructure projects approved without public consultations. In the first of what is set to be a series of weekly presentations, the group took on the proposed Rs 12,000-crore Marine Drive-Kandivali Coastal Road project.
The Apna Mumbai Abhiyan, formed a week ago, has 15 citizens organisations on board to consolidate various voices and put pressure on the government. The group on Thursday outlined a range of concerns regarding the project. It said the BMC is proceeding with identifying international consultants and Indian partners to construct the first four stretches without obtaining the final environmental sanction from the Union environment ministry.
Secondly, it said the BMC had not held any public consultation on the project despite it being one that would change the face of the city.
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The group reiterated concerns that the project is only for private vehicle users, or just seven per cent of commuters. It said the project will also destroy natural features like the rock formations around Bandra Fort and several acres of mangroves.
Drawing a parallel with the Bandra-Worli sea link, the group inefficient implementation would be financially disastrous. Hussain Indorewala, a researcher with the Collective for Spatial Alternatives and a group member,, said, “The Bandra-Worli sea link cost 400 times the initial projection and now operates at about 40 per cent efficiency.” He added that if the same happens with the Coastal Road project, the public will have to pay to subsidise private vehicle users.
Group says BMC is proceeding with the project without MoEF sanction or public consultation