Bandra-Kurla will soon be smart city
ON ANVIL Complex to have Wi-Fi connectivity, hybrid/electric buses, improved road link & modern infrastructure
Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) may soon turn into a smart city as Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has plans for its improvement. BKC may soon have Wi-Fi internet connectivity, hybrid/electric buses, improved road connectivity and infrastructure.
MMRDA recently allocated Rs 75 crore out of its budget of Rs 6,976 crore for 2017-18 for this project of converting BKC into a smart city.
As BKC is a major commercial and financial hub, MMRDA chose to improve this 180-hectare plot. It houses major financial offices such as Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI), National Stock Exchange of India(NSE), Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and banks like Deutsche, ICICI and Axis Bank.
The project will mainly focus on improving road connectivity as BKC is a junction which is equally far from both Bandra and Kurla railway stations. MMRDA has plans for the construction of an elevated road extending Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) up to Vakola Bridge at Santacruz (east) on Western Express Highway (WEH).
Also, the 5-km Kurla-Vakola elevated road will be constructed to decongest traffic in the area.
MMRDA has chosen the plot as it is the Special Planning Authority for this area. Dilip Kawathkar, Deputy Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, said, “Transformation of BKC is a priority project as this area is an important commercial hub and needs better connectivity. As part of the Kalanagar decongestion plan, we will develop roads to connect BKC from all sides, namely WEH towards western suburbs, Dharavi towards central suburbs and Bandra Worli Sea Link towards south Mumbai.”
Road connectivity has been a regular problem faced by commuters. Juliet Pais, a facility executive in a corporate firm at BKC, told the Free Press Journal, “Traffic congestion especially during peak hours leads to inconvenience in daily travel to offices at BKC. It costs around Rs 50 in an auto rickshaw to reach BKC from Bandra or Kurla railway station which is an expensive affair. In addition, buses get stuck in traffic which adds to travel time.”
“It will help us to commute faster if the roads connect us directly to both south and north Mumbai. Also, there are network issues at BKC already, so I highly doubt if this Wi-Fi internet connectivity will help us,” said Pais.
Though MMRDA does not have a specific date for the commencement of the project the tendering process for few road projects are in process. Also, MMRDA has no plans for the improvement or removal of the 13km cycle track which has being lying non-functional since 2011.
The project will mainly focus on improving road connectivity as BKC junction is far from both Bandra and Kurla railway stations