It isn't a bridge over troubled waters. But it's a bridge that, if completed, will ease the troubles of many mumbaikars. The bridge in discussion is the Trans Harbour Link Project. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised fast-tracking of several key infrastructure projects, including the Trans Harbour Link road from South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.
Now, the MMRDA close to acquiring the land required, but the project is still stuck.
On February 5 Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis said, “We have got all the clearances, or nearly all the clearances for the Trans Harbour Link, which would link Mumbai to New Mumbai.”The 22-kilometre long Trans Harbour Link road project - a bridge that will someday connect Mumbai and its satellite town Navi Mumbai - was envisioned more than three decades back. Now, Mumbai's Development Authority.
The MMRDA in partnership with Maharashtra's development agency CIDCO - is close to acquiring the remaining 27 hectares of land required for the project.
CIDCO's offer to land owners is: surrender your land, and cidco will return 22.5 percent of it with basic infrastructure like like water and sewage. CIDCO's compensation also includes an average FSI of 2, which is higher than the 1.5 FSI that is prevalent in the region.
"There is some land, which is yet to be acquired in this area. We are talking to them. Those guys have accepted that if you give us the airport package we are ready to come." said Sanjay Bhatia, Vice Chairman and MD of CIDCO.The Navi Mumbai Airport Project, first concieved in 1997 has been delayed thanks to problems in acquiring land. But its funding and not land that is the problem when it comes to the proposed Trans Harbour Link. The MMRDA had hoped that the project, now estimated to cost over 10,000 crore rupees, would be majorly funded through a loan from the japan international cooperation agency, and 20 percent by the central government. But with the jica loan not forthcoming, the MMRDA is now considering other options.
"The hold up right now is whether we should go ahead by taking a loan, because MMRDA is handling this project. They're talking to JICA on this, which is going to take a little time, maybe a year or so. So that is one question, whether a loan should be taken and then the project taken up or whether the government agencies contribute themselves and start the project," Bhatia added.
If the 16.5 kilometer long bridge does get constructed, it will drastically cut travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Home buyers can then look at suburbas for cheaper options. And that may also lead to a softening of property rates in the overpriced island city. But, if the government agencies don't foot the bill, it could very well be another year and a half atleast before work starts.
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