The work on Revas-Reddi coastal road project in the Konkan region is lagging behind due to lack of certain clearances for the project.
This came to the light during a review meeting chaired by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday (29 Nov).
According to the proposed project’s blueprint, bridges are slated to be built over Dharamatar and Bankot creeks. However, the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) has yet to provide the necessary vertical clearance for the construction of these bridges.
During the meeting, Pawar instructed the Maharashtra Maritime Board to promptly issue the necessary clearances for these bridges.
“However, the pending clearance from the Maritime Board for the bridge’s navigation specifications has halted further tender processes,” the Deputy CM’s office said in a statement.
Dharamatar Creek Bridge
In October 2022, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had invited bids for the construction of a new 2.04-km-long, four-lane bridge linking Revas and Karanja over Dharamatar Creek in Raigad district.
The project, estimated at Rs 897.68 crore, had a completion deadline of 36 months. Six companies vied for the bridge tender, and SP Singla Constructions (SPSCL) emerged as the lowest bidder for the project.
Upon completion, the bridge is anticipated to significantly reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Alibaug to a mere 10 minutes.
Similarly, another major bridge, spanning 1.375 km, is being built across Bankot Creek between Kolmandala and Veshvi on Coastal Highway.
Long Delay
The 498-km Revas-Reddy coastal highway, MSH-4, has been delayed for over four decades and the final project design was approved in March 2022 as a pivotal step towards expediting the highway’s progress.
The coastal road project, spanning from Revas in Raigad district to Reddi in Sindhudurg district, is expected to play significant role in bringing holistic development of Konkan region, especially in bolstering tourism.
The Maharashtra Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), designated as the nodal agency by the state government for the coastal road project, is actively involved in surveying and preparing a detailed project report (DPR) outlining the proposed project alignment.
In a major boost-up for the project, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has pitched for the coastal highway being built in Maharashtra, to be extended to connect the state with Goa and Gujarat.
“The extension of the coastal road, which is being designed by MSRDC in the three coastal districts, will be a major boost to tourism in the three coastal states. It will also benefit in maintaining coastal security in these states,” Shinde said at the 26th Western Zonal Council meeting held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on 28 August this year.