MMRDA to connect tourist sites via greenways
This is part of the city planning body’s plan to promote non-motorised road transport
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has identified regional roads along which there is a plan to construct greenways that will serve as connectors to tourist sites. This has been planned to promote non-motorised road transport for the people.
As a part of the plan, MMRDA has identified certain roads which can provide connectivity to the sites having tourism potential. MMRDA has proposed to construct greenways in their draft regional plan of 2016-2036 of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for the MMRDA.
The proposed plan is to construct a bicycle lane along the 140km-long MMC. This MMC will help people reach Virar from Alibaug in less than 75 minutes. “The plan is to construct greenways along the proposed MultiModal Corridor (MMC) from Alibaug to Vasai-Virar and proposed Ulhas river road connecting Mira-Bhyandar to Ulhasnagar,” said an MMRDA official.
It would also connect road from Arnala near Vasai to Agashi in Virar and internal city road from Vasai fort that would connect Nalasopara and reach Arnala beach. This greenway is set to connect old Mumbai-Pune highway from Panvel till Khopoli National Highway (NH4).
The corridor will consist of 30 meters wide metro corridor in the middle and another four lane corridor for the bus transport system. “There will also be pedestrian pathways on both the sides, parking lanes, lane for two wheelers and a two meter pathways for a bicycle track,” added the official.
The greenways will consist of dedicated bicycle tracks or bus lanes providing seamless connectivity to tourist spots which includes Matheran Hill, Tungareshwar Bird Sanctuary, Karnala Bird Sanctuary and Lonar caves near Bhiwandi.
An MMRDA official said, “There is also a plan to construct greenway roads on Kalyan Ring Road, Jesal Park in Bhayandar to Fountain Hotel in Ghodbunder. These would provide linkages to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).”
The greenway project is currently in the planning stage. After finalizing the urban design for greenways and width of the cycling tracks, the detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared and the project will be commissioned thereafter.
“The greenways will provide open spaces to the city. We are also planning for dedicated bus lanes that will help the tourists reach the tourists spot easily. The greenway project will also help the camping enthusiasts who can use the dedicated lanes to reach the tourists spot,” added the official.