Mumbai Coastal Road: Juhu Residents Demand Undersea Tunnel From Bandra To Versova

Mumbai News: The residents of Juhu are urging the government to construct an undersea tunnel from Bandra to Versova instead of the bridge, in a bid to not disturb the existing sea and open skyline view as well as save the environment.

The residents had also filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court, which was quashed, citing a lack of documentation. However, a fresh PIL was filed last month, citing serious concerns over environmental damage, aesthetic destruction and long-term sustainability.  

The Bandra Versova Sea Link (BVSL) is part of the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road. It connects the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and is constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) at the escalated cost of Rs 18,120 crore.

A press conference was held on Monday by some active Juhu residents, including Dr Himanshu Mehta, Ummed Nahata and Ushaben Patel, explaining the need for an underground tunnel from Bandra to Versova instead of a sea link. “An overhead bridge would be a permanent eyesore, damaging one of Mumbai’s most cherished coastal landscapes. Cities worldwide favour tunnels, providing effectiveness and sustainability and the tunnel would cost approximately Rs 2,000 crore more, but it will ensure long-term environmental benefits,” Mehta said.

Almost 25 per cent of civil work on the BVSL project has been completed and work is expected to accelerate as certain permissions from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority were recently granted, reports say.