The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said it is firm on providing motorists a smooth ride on the congested Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg.
The civic body held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the removal or relocation of structures that are coming in the way of road widening and compensations that can be offered to those who will be affected. The meeting was chaired by mayor Sunil Prabhu.
The civic body claims to have completed 90% of all widening work on stretches between Sion and Thane that pass through the densely populated pockets of the eastern suburbs. However, the corporation did not specify a deadline for the work to be completed.
“We need to remove/shift around 600 structures before going ahead with widening the roads. To ensure this is done without too much trouble, we have offered those people who will be affected to either opt for FSI, TDR or cash. We will provide them with these based on a ready reckoner or redeveloped markets in return for cooperating with us for widening the road,” additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said.
They are also provided with the option to accept cash from the BMC and return the same once the civic body develops a property for them.
The civic body has been planning to widen this 21km-long road to 120ft from its current 60-90 ft since 1970. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority was supposed to widen it earlier, but the plan failed to materialise until earlier this year when the BMC took charge. The road will be broadened to six lanes from present four once the work is completed.
Residents hope the BMC goes ahead with it. “Widening the road will be a relief for people wanting to travel between the two suburbs,” Vikas Shah, a resident, said.
Project's Progress
The civic body has been planning to widen this 21km-long road to 120ft from its current 60-90 ft since 1970. The MMRDA was supposed to widen it earlier, but the plan failed to materialise until earlier this year when the BMC took charge. The road will have six lanes from present four once the work is done.
Compensation
Locals who will be affected by the road widening project are provided with the option to accept cash from the BMC and return the same once the civic body develops a property for them.
