Mumbai: CIDCO To Construct Two Coastal Roads For Navi Mumbai Airport Connectivity And Beyond

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) of Maharashtra is set to kickstart two pivotal road projects in Mumbai.

The projects, aiming to ensure seamless connectivity to the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport and enhance overall accessibility in the region, include the Ulwe Coastal Road and Kharghar Coastal Road projects.

Ulwe Coastal Road (UCR):

The UCR, a 5.8-km-long road, is designed to connect the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) via an elevated link road.

CIDCO recently obtained permission from the Bombay High Court to cut 3,728 mangroves for this project, signalling a significant step towards its realisation.

The road, estimated to cost around Rs 1,400 crore, has received environmental and forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

The construction, set to commence soon, will be executed on stilts to minimise the impact on mangrove areas. The project is expected to take 24 months to complete.

Anil Diggikar, the vice chairman and managing director of CIDCO, emphasised the UCR's importance, stating, "It is the key to seamless connectivity to the upcoming airport and thus very important for the commercial success of the airport."

Kharghar Coastal Road (KCR): The KCR project aims to connect the Kharghar node in sector 16 to sector 11 in the CBD Belapur node.

The 9.6-km-long road, designed to alleviate traffic congestion on the Sion-Panvel highway, is currently under scrutiny by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change for clearance.

Once approved, CIDCO will seek permission from the high court to proceed with the project.

Diggikar highlighted the significance of KCR, stating, "It is an important link for traffic between the NMIA and all other parts of Navi Mumbai, including the International Corporate Park being developed on the lines of Bandra Kurla Complex and the passenger water terminal at Nerul," reports Hindustan Times.

Both projects, estimated to be completed by early 2026, are considered crucial components in CIDCO's strategy to bolster connectivity to the Navi Mumbai International Airport and accommodate the burgeoning infrastructure requirements of the region.