Bkc-chunabhatti road: Central Railway wants MMRDA to clear encroachments

MUMBAI: The Central Railway has set conditions for the Mumba Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is building the Bkc-chunabhatt elevated road.

The Rs156-crore elevated road will be constructed across Mith river and Central Railway lines.

It wants the MMRDA to remove encroachments along the tracks at Chunabhatti and built an overbridge. Only then would the planning agency get permission to build Bkc-chunabhatti elevated road over the central lines in Kurla

“Usually, the railways seeks changes in designs of roads keep ing in mind safety issues. However they want us to remove encroach ments on their land for this project We have no option but to remove the encroachments,” said a sen ior MMRDA official, requesting anonymity.

Another MMRDA official said a survey in the area will be carried out to identify slumdwellers.

“I will be able to comment on the issue after studying the mat ter,” said Narendra Patil, chief public relations officer of Central Railway.

The elevated link road will start from BKC’S G-block, cross Mith river and two railway lines before descending on Eastern Express Highway near Somaiya ground at Sion.

The MMRDA has appointed J Kumar to construct the link road which is expected to be completed in three years.

After the link road is built, com muters from the eastern suburbs Thane and Navi Mumbai need not take the congested Sion-dharav Link road to reach BKC.

The travel time from Sion to BKC will be reduced to five min utes from 20 to 45 minutes during peak hours. The MMRDA is also in talks with Somaiya education trust as it wants to use part of Somaiya ground to build a ramp.