Navi Mumbai Cancels Palm Beach Road Flyover

06 Sep 2023 CW Team

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has cancelled plans for a flyover construction project over Palm Beach Road in Vashi. This decision came in response to opposition from local residents, environmentalists, and Airoli MLA Ganesh Naik. The proposed project would have required the uprooting of 390 trees, which had raised concerns among various stakeholders.

As part of the now-scrapped project, the plan included relocating 384 trees and cutting down 6 trees to construct a flyover from Arenja Corner in sector 17 of Vashi to Kopri village in Vashi.

Former Housing Minister of Maharashtra, Jitendra Awhad, had previously voiced his opposition to the project, emphasising the importance of minimising tree removal and increasing the number of trees to be replanted.

The flyover, with an estimated cost of Rs 3.50 billion, aimed to alleviate traffic congestion in the area, particularly at Arenja Corner in sector 17 of Vashi. However, local residents and activists argued that the removal of trees for the flyover was not justifiable, as it takes decades for trees to grow to their full potential.

Divya Vaibhav Gaikwad, a former Vashi corporator and ex-member of the Environment Committee of NMMC, pointed out that traffic congestion near Satra Plaza along Palm Beach Road was due to encroachments. She suggested that alternative solutions, such as addressing encroachments and constructing a road-side wall to prevent further encroachment, could be considered instead of building a flyover.

The decision to cancel the flyover project reflects the growing concern for environmental preservation and sustainable urban development.

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