Decks cleared for Thane-Belapur elevated road corridor

The Maharashtra revenue and forest department has given a green signal for the diversion of one-hectare mangrove land between Airoli Bridge and Thane-Belapur Road for the construction of a flyover. The freeway consisting of 1.68 km long twin tunnels is a major part of the project on the elevated route, which will help reduce the traffic snarls for commuters between Mumbai to Kalyan and Badlapur region. The order issued by joint secretary A S Apte said that 0.983 hectares of reserved and unclassified (mangrove) forest land at Dive, Airoli and Chinchvali in Thane district has been diverted under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Further, 150 hectares of forest land across Thane, Palghar, Ahmednagar and Pune will also be diverted for laying electricity transmission lines. Forest lands are also being diverted in Shahpur, Bhiwandi, Murbad in Mumbai metropolitan area. Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation along with the fisheries department had petitioned the Bombay HC against the Centre for not proceeding with this infrastructure project, which the departments maintained are in the public interest to ease traffic and connectivity. Despite the HC clearing the deck, the decision remained pending with the state environment ministry, which recently gave a green signal to go ahead with the elevated road corridor.