It’s no secret that traffic problems in Mumbai are quite common. However, with the motive of catering towards an anticipated surge in traffic, the Maharashtra Government has approved the widening of Marine Drive in Mumbai. Yes, from the existing six lanes, now there will be 12. Here’s all you need to know about the road being built parallel to Marine Drive.
Marine Drive To Be Widened?
It is expected that once the Orange Gate tunnel becomes operational, there will be a surge in traffic snarls. This is expected after the tunnel, which connects Orange Gate, that’s inside the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), and Marine Drive is set to be completed by 2028. As a result, the state government has planned to widen the stretch of Marine Drive to 12 lanes with a road parallel to it. This green light was given by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after he met with top Government officials, as revealed in a report by Hindustan Times.
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This Project Will Cost About ₹500 Crore
As per the report, this expansion project is set to cost approximately ₹500 crore. Not to mention, it will also safeguard the visual identity of Marine Drive while offering 25 25-year solutions to the traffic congestion. There were, however, other alignments, such as roads beneath Oval Maidan and through Navy‑owned dockyard land, that were also explored by the MMRDA. These ideas were abandoned due to environmental concerns. In fact, the Navy refused to give a permit, and there was also an objection from the residents of the area.
The residents of Marine Drive, however, have expressed their apprehension about the iconic promenade and how it would be affected by the project. It should be noted that the project is important for easing the traffic on P D’Mello Road. It offers a seamless connection between the Eastern Freeway and Atal Setu.
So, it seems that with this development, traffic is going to become a lot better in the area.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Images are for representative purposes only)
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