NEW AIRPORT CLEARANCE MMRDA to start work by 2011 to improve connectivity in the region
The clearance of the Navi Mumbai Airport has given much-awaited boost toaslew of infrastructure projects in Mumbai.
In an attempt to improve connectivity to the new airport, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is now speeding up projects like the 12-lane Virar Alibaug corridor.
“Weare expecting the final techno-economic feasibility study byLouis Berger[the consultants] on the project by March after which we will call forthebids,”saidSVRSrinivas, additional metropolitan commissioner.
TheMMRDAhopes to start work on the Rs 10,000-crore project by late 2011.
MMRDAofficials claim that with the newairport getting clearance, projects likethe Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor assume significanceas theywill drasticallyimprove the transport infrastructure in the area.
Amulti-modal corridor is a high-speed transport corridor, which integrates roads, metro line,bus, and pedestrian infrastructureclose to each other.
Workonthe 140-kmlong corridor will be undertaken in two phases –90-km from Virarto Panvel (Phase 1) and 50-km from Panvel to Alibaug (Phase 2).
The freewaywill start from ViraronNational Highway (NH)-18 and end at Alibaug on NH-17 via Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Dombivli and Panvel.
Oncethe corridor is completed, it would mean the people heading to Alibaug or the NewAirport could takeacar, bus, oranair-conditionedMetro car fromVirarandcover140km in less then 75 minutes.
The newroadwill pass throughareas likePanvelwhere the newairport is coming up.
It will also pass throughThane, NaviMumbai,Kalyan, Dombivli, MiraRoad, Bhayendar, Bhiwandi, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Kulgaon, Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar, Navaghar,Alibaug,Karjat, Khopoli,Matheran,Panvel,Pen and Uran.
Theproposed alignment will also connect with four crucial national highwaysnamely,NH8(Mumbai-Ahmedabad), NH3(Mumbai-Agra-Delhi), NH-4 (Mumbai-Chennai), andNH-17 (Goa-Mangalore-Kerala).
Thecorridor will provide for 30-metrewide Metrocorridor in the median, four-lane corridor forBRTS, four-lane corridor forother traffic,five-metre wide pedestrian pathways on either side,seven-metrewide two-lane serviceroadsoneither side,2.5-metrewide parking lane forfour-wheelers on either side,3.5-metrewide lane fortwo-wheelersoneither side and 2-metrefootpath on each side.
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