Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday asked officials to identify and develop government land near major infrastructure projects as economic hubs on the lines of Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
Chairing a review meeting on the proposed Versova to Bhayander coastal road (north connector), the CM emphasized timely permissions and ecological conservation, including compensatory mangrove plantation.
“The completion of key infrastructure projects opens up tremendous development potential. Government land in such areas should be earmarked and transformed into new financial centres similar to BKC,” Fadnavis said.
Highlighting the significance of Versova-Bhayander coastal road, he directed that mangroves affected by the project must be compensated with additional afforestation.
All necessary environmental and construction permissions must be obtained simultaneously to avoid delays and the project must be completed within the stipulated deadline of December 2028, Fadnavis said.
He said the project requires approximately 165 hectares of land, most of which is government-owned, and instructed concerned departments to complete the land transfer process within 15 days.
If the building of the Fisheries Department in Versova is affected, steps should be taken to acquire it in coordination with the department, he added.
A connecting road from Madh to Versova should also be developed in coordination with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the Chief Minister said.
Fadnavis further suggested planning for advertising infrastructure such as hoardings and flex boards along the coastal road.
“A competent consultant should be appointed to devise a comprehensive plan. Revenue generated from advertisements should be used for road maintenance and management,” he said.
The main stretch of the Versova-Bhayander coastal road will be 26 kilometres long, while the total network, including connector roads, will be of 63 kilometres. The project is divided into six work packages, and the tendering process has already begun, a statement from the CM’s Office (CMO) said.
