Crucial meets in Capital to decide future of Trans Harbour Link.

A series of decisive meetings in New Delhi soon are going to decide the future of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) — a project stuck in securing various clearances.

A meeting recentlly between officials of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) paved the way for the former to secure the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the project.

According to a senior MMRDA official privy to the details of the meeting, they are a step closer to getting the CRZ clearance. The official said that they are pursuing this issue vigorously and last week too they had meetings to secure the clearance at the earliest.

“The meeting recently was positive. The Expert Assessment Committee (EAC) of the MoEF met to discuss the CRZ clearance for MTHL. We hope to get CRZ clearance now, which was suspended by the NGT earlier,” the senior MMRDA official said requesting anonymity.

Earlier, the MMRDA was also made to apply for fresh permissions from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and MoEF as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had suspended the CRZ clearance in which it questioned the way MCZMA and MoEF gave clearance to the project.

The EAC had asked MMRDA for compliances to counter the NGT suspension which the implementing authority has provided on Wednesday, the official added. “EAC is satisfied with compliance; this is final step for securing the CRZ clearance,” he said.

The 22-km link will connect Sewri with Chirle in Navi Mumbai, thereby reducing travel time. Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be funding 80% of the estimate project cost of Rs. 11,000 crore.

JICA, meanwhile, is carrying out its own environment assessment study.

Meanwhile, another hurdle awaits MMRDA recently where they will need a go-ahead from the Forest Advisory Committee of the ministry for the diversion of the status of forest land.

“We are positive about that meeting also. Earlier, the Wildlife Board had given an in-principle approval to the project and we are positive that FAC too will clear it,” he added.


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