Mumbai: BMC has deposited Rs 16 crore into the Defence ministry’s account to acquire land it requires to widen Hans Bhugra Road that links Kalina to Western Express Highway, at Santacruz.
An MMRDA official said that the land was crucial to widen the 20mt road to 45mt. A bottleneck at the junction near the defence land often caused severe traffic snarls for vehicles heading towards Vakola. “The road will expand from three lanes in each direction to five lanes, easing traffic significantly,” the official said. The widened road is expected to be open for traffic within five months, officials said.
Initially, the Defence ministry had demanded Rs 27 crore for two land parcels close to Vakola nalla (drain ) on the north and south of Hans Bhugra Road. However, BMC was reluctant to pay more than Rs 5 crore, basing its valuation on ready reckoner rates of 2022-23. The negotiation was stretched as the Defence ministry insisted on compensation on current market rates.
Sources said that after a series of meetings and correspondence, the amount was finalised at Rs 16.40 crore. MMRDA officials mediated, emphasising on the public benefit of the project.
On Oct 10, Rs 16.40 crore was deposited into Defence ministry’s account for the two plots — one measuring 792 sqm, the other 560 sqm.
The defence land will now be handed over to an MMRDA contractor. The traffic police have given the go-ahead to MMRDA to begin work on Santacruz Chember Link Road (SCLR) extension, and operations started on Dec 7, said a senior traffic police official. “We have instructed them to adhere strictly to the proposed deadline to avoid any delays,” the official said.
To mitigate traffic disruption, MMRDA has been directed to carry out work between midnight and 6am
The project faced delays due to many challenges. Encroachments restricted right of way for the bridge construction, and alignment of DN Nagar-Bandra metro overlapped with the bridge design, necessitating tweaks. The Covid-19 lockdown too compounded delays.
