The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation is awaiting a nod from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to begin work on two car decks (assembled flyovers) planned for Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Marg at Pratiksha Point and R G Thadani Junction. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has already given its consent and forwarded the plan to the Centre.

The MSRDC plans to construct two back-to-back steel car decks to avoid traffic snarls in the area. The corporation also plans to construct a skywalk over the end of the sea link on Worli sea face for the convenience of pedestrians. “The committee here has forwarded the proposal for car deck and skywalk to the MoEF,” confirmed Valsa Nair Singh, Principal Secretary, Environment Department.

However, MSRDC doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to get the MoEF’s nod as the traffic scenario at the Worli end is not as grave as was projected by the project consultant.

Dar Consultants, appointed in 1995 to study the sea link potential impact, had projected that 79,335 passenger car units (PCUs) would use the sea link in 2009 but it has barely managed to reach 40,000 PCUs per day.

“We’re awaiting a NOC from MoEF and then we would start the work on the car decks and the skywalk. But the traffic situation is not bad at the Worli-end,” said a MSRDC official on condition of anonymity.

The car decks are assembled steel flyovers and will cost Rs 15 crore each. Cars and two-wheelers would be allowed to use the decks while heavy vehicles would go under it. The car decks are expected two save south-bound vehicles almost 2 km detour via Love Grove Junction and Atria Mall.

... contd.