en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has submitted an application to the State Coastal Zone Management Authority seeking Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the Thane Coastal Road Phase II project. The project, costing ₹5,140.92 crore (approximately ₹51.41 billion), is a critical infrastructure corridor passing through ecologically sensitive coastal areas, including mangroves and the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
The MMRDA submitted this fresh application under the CRZ Notification 2019, stating that the proposed 7.13-km alignment spans multiple CRZ categories, covering CRZ-IA, CRZ-IB, CRZ-II, and CRZ-IVB. The submitted documents indicate that the project qualifies under provisions that permit public infrastructure such as coastal roads to proceed, subject to compliance with environmental protection measures and statutory approval processes. The authority stated that an application for forest clearance is also in progress.
The proposal reveals that the project will impact approximately 12.72 hectares of mangroves, with an estimated removal of around 1,733 mangrove trees. As part of the approval process, the MMRDA will submit a compensatory afforestation plan, and the project documents have preliminarily outlined corresponding mitigation measures, with the authority stating that ecological conservation initiatives will be implemented in accordance with the law.
The environmental assessment highlights the project's proximity to protected ecosystems, with portions of the alignment located within the ecologically sensitive zone of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, which lies approximately 700 meters from the proposed road; the ecologically sensitive zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park is approximately 2.6 km from the project, while the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary falls within an 8-km radius of the project. Terrestrial and marine environmental impact assessment studies were completed between December 2025 and February 2026, and a disaster management plan along with coastal zone maps indicating the route alignment have also been submitted.
The planned six-lane highway will connect Balkum, Kasheli, and Anand Nagar in Mulund East, providing an alternate route for regional traffic passing through Thane and easing congestion on the Eastern Express Highway and Ghodbunder Road by diverting non-local vehicles. The MMRDA believes that the road, once completed, will help reduce travel time, lower road accident rates, cut vehicular emissions, and save operational costs for freight and passenger transport. CRZ clearance is one of the statutory approvals required before the project can commence construction, and upon completion, the project will further enhance the efficiency of connectivity between Thane, Mumbai, and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
