Mumbai (The Hindu) Bund wall being constructed at Amarsons Garden, geotechnical investigation on Work on the Rs 12,000-crore coastal road has begun, two months after the project was sanctioned by the standing committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Jetties constructed
Two jetties have been constructed at Breach Candy and Worli, and the geotechnical investigation and bund-wall construction are under way. The BMC is in charge of the 9.98-km Coastal Road running from Marine Lines to the Worli end of the sea link. Work has been allotted to a joint venture of Hindustan Construction Company and Hyundai Development Corporation, and Larsen & Toubro.

Geotechnical investigation has begun at Amarsons Garden and Worli and a GPS instrument has been set up at Marine Drive. A temporary bund wall is also being constructed at Amarsons Garden. Jetties are being constructed at Breach Candy and Worli sea face for mobilisation of resources. Most of the heavy machinery and material for the road will have to be mobilised by sea. The final project cost works out to Rs 12,721 crore. As per the contract conditions, the construction needs to be completed within a period of four years.

Apart from two tunnels with a road length of 6 km, promenades of 6.45 km, a cycle track, jogging track and open-air theatre, a 6.44-km-long sea wall the coastal road will create three parking lots at Amarsons, Haji Ali and Worli interchanges, with a capacity of 1,625 cars. At least 90 hectares of reclaimed land will be part of open spaces, and the road will have one lane for buses or emergency vehicles each.

The BMC claims the road will save 70% travelling time and 34% fuel every year.