Mumbai: BMC plans concrete road in Aarey Colony, activists say think of wildlife, too

The cement concrete road has been approved by minister Aaditya Thackeray

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to convert the 7.2-km-long main tar road in Aarey Milk Colony into a cement concrete one at a cost of over Rs 40 crore, wildlife activists are demanding that the civic body also consult the forest department and make at least four to five underpasses for animals.

Shiv Sena MLA from Jogeshwari and former minister of state Ravindra Waikar has been following up on the road's construction. According to a press release issued by Waikar's office, the request for the cement concrete road was approved by the Mumbai Suburban District Guardian Minister Aaditya Thackeray, who also heads the Tourism, Environment & Protocol ministry.

The new road will cost Rs 46.75 crore and it has also been said that Thackeray has assured to repair internal roads.

Environmentalist Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti has written to the state for an underpass at the Aarey road and Ghodbunder Road. The letter has also given three suggestions.

"No heavy vehicles except BEST buses should be allowed to use the Aarey roads. The roads must have underpasses at regular intervals to allow wild animals to move inside the forests, this will reduce roadkills. We request sufficient speed breakers to discourage speeding. This will also help prevent local pedestrians, many of whom are school-going children from tribal hamlets, meeting accidents," the letter stated.

At Ghodbunder Road, the letter demands an underpass particularly at the Chena Creek section among others. "The Ghodbunder road cuts through the national park and fragments the forest. Having said the above, we once again humbly request you to take steps to discourage traffic and protect the ecology of Aarey," the letter said.

Wildlife conservationist and director of The Corbett Foundation Kedar Gore said, "Since a large part of Aarey colony is a notified forest and with the proven presence of leopards and other threatened species, it is essential to have several wildlife underpasses while making this road. There should also be a speed limit during nighttime. This would hopefully reduce accidents as one can't assume that all special will use the underpasses."

Rs 46.75cr
Cost of the new concrete road