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The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated the environmental approval process for the proposed Rs 5,140.92 crore Thane Coastal Road Phase II, submitting an application for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance as the project passes through ecologically sensitive coastal and mangrove areas, TOI reported.
The proposal has been placed before the State Coastal Zone Management Authority under the provisions of the CRZ Notification, 2019, marking a key procedural step before construction on the corridor can begin.
A 7.13 km corridor through ecologically sensitive zones
The proposed corridor spans 7.13 km and will be a six-lane road.
Statutory approval is essential before construction can commence, as the alignment traverses multiple notified coastal regulation zones, including stretches of mangroves and the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) surrounding the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
The alignment falls within the following CRZ categories:
- CRZ-IA
- CRZ-IB
- CRZ-II
- CRZ-IVB
MMRDA has maintained that the project qualifies as essential public infrastructure under the prevailing CRZ regulations, subject to compliance with environmental safeguards and statutory conditions, given the range of coastal zone categories the alignment passes through.
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Mangrove impact and compensatory measures
As part of the proposal, MMRDA has acknowledged that approximately 12.72 hectares of mangrove cover would be affected, with nearly 1,733 mangrove trees proposed for removal.
A separate application seeking forest clearance is already under consideration, while compensatory afforestation measures will be incorporated as part of the approval process.
The environmental assessment also highlights the project's proximity to several protected ecological assets. Portions of the corridor lie within the notified ESZ of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, with the sanctuary located around 700 metres from the alignment.
The Sanjay Gandhi National Park Eco-Sensitive Zone lies about 2.6 km away, while the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary falls within an 8 km radius.
To support the clearance application, MMRDA has completed terrestrial and marine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies, prepared coastal zone maps and formulated a disaster management plan, forming the technical basis on which the CRZ clearance will be assessed.
What the road will connect once approved
Once approved, the coastal road will connect Balkum and Kasheli with Anand Nagar in Mulund East, creating an alternative route for regional traffic and adding another link within the wider network of coastal infrastructure being developed across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The project's progress will now depend on how the State Coastal Zone Management Authority assesses the environmental studies and safeguards submitted as part of the CRZ application.
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