Mumbai: Tender floated for road 30 yrs in the making

Chandivli residents, who have been demanding that a 90-foot road be built, sit on a hunger strike on MHADA Colony Road on August 20. Pics/Satej Shinde

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) floated a tender for the construction of a 90-foot-long road in Chandivli on Monday, a day after residents held a hunger strike to ensure that the stretch is built. However, acquiring land is a long process and civic officials have refrained from setting a deadline for the work.
The stretch which is connected to Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) was first conceptualised in a development plan 30 years ago.

As per the e-tender notice floated by the deputy chief engineer of the road department, the civic body invited an application to construct the DP road from Chandivli Farm Road to JVLR in cement concrete in L ward. The estimated cost of the work is Rs 27.78 crore and the contract period is 12 months, excluding the monsoon. The last date and time for submission of bids is September 20.

Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of Chandivli Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) termed the development a big win for citizens. A BMC official said the land is currently occupied by two parties and the road will be developed after it is transferred to the BMC.

P Velrasu, additional municipal commissioner, said, "The DP department makes the land available to the road department." A road department official told mid-day, "We have floated a tender. The road will be constructed once we receive a land parcel reserve for roads. The transfer of land work is done by the DP department."

The DP department official said, "We received instructions to acquire the land in February and the process is going on. The land has been encroached upon and the work has to be carried out at the ward level." Dhanaji Herlekar, assistant commissioner, L ward, said, "There are hundreds of encroachments on the land and it will take time to resettle and compensate so many encroachers. It will take time."

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Chandivli residents sit on a hunger strike on MHADA Colony Road on August 20. Pic/Satej Shinde

The citizens had held protests in February and after repeated follow-ups, Velrasu met with them and asked the department concerned to act. As no steps had been taken after six months, the Chandivli Citizens Welfare Association held a hunger strike on Sunday and more than 100 citizens participated in a protest between 10 am and 6 pm.

Once known for small industries, Chandivli transformed into a residential hot spot, with the construction of high-rises over the past two decades. Residents in the area have long been demanding the 90-foot road to decongest the area, which is dependent on two routes - Chandivli Farm Road and DP Road 9, which are also choked. In 2021, the BMC built only one-third of the road, where two-wheelers, trucks and garbage dumpers are parked currently.

Rs 27.78
Estimated cost of project