Mumbai-Pune Expressway augmentation to claim 80 hectares of forest land
The starting point of missing link is near the Khopoli exit and from there it goes up-to Sinhgad Institute, and is being constructed as bypass to decongest the ghat section of the Expressway.
Around 80 hectares of forest land will be acquired for the augmentation of the 94-km-long Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has said that construction of 13.3-km-long 'missing link' that will run parallel to existing Mumbai-Pune Expressway will require acquisition of 80 hectares of forest land in Pune and Raigad district.
A report prepared by the MSRDC on the augmentation, reads, "The project road is passing through forest areas in several stretches and constitutes about 80.03 hectares of the total forest. The details have been obtained from forest and revenue department's records through which the project highway passes."
The starting point of missing link is near the Khopoli exit and from there it goes up-to Sinhgad Institute, and is being constructed as bypass to decongest the ghat section of the Expressway.
The report prepared by MSRDC, further reads, "Apart from widening and strengthening of road, some additional impacts, like rise in the noise and air pollution level to some extent, may be seen on the surrounding environment due to construction of the flyovers at major junctions. During the operation phase the environmental impacts are most likely to be positive. However, there could be some adverse impacts due to inadequate operation and maintenance or control."
The report further reads, "Decrease in air pollution is expected, but in long run due to increase in traffic volume air quality may deteriorate if long term mitigation measures are not included in the project vehicle design. Contamination of soil is expected due to deposition of the chemicals from emissions as well as spills from vehicles."
DNA had reported in December 2017 as to how around 8,300 trees are to be axed for the construction of the Expressway in Pune and Raigad district.
A MSRDC official, said, "We have already approached the forest department and in exchange of deforestation of 80 hectares we are going to the same amount of afforestation at Jalna district in Marathwada."
The Rs 5,300-crore augmentation plan, for which 16 companies have been shortlisted, includes building of two elevated bridges and two tunnels that will shorten the distance between Mumbai and Pune by around 10 km.
THE REPORT
- A report prepared by the MSRDC on the augmentation, reads, “The project road is passing through forest areas in several stretches and constitutes about 80.03 hectares of the total forest.”