NHAI seeks nod to clear 14 hectares of forest to widen road in Thane

A proposal to acquire 13.91 hectares had been sent in 1984, but authorities had to prepare a new one after the earlier document could not be traced. Representation pic

Thane district will likely lose 14 hectares of forest to a road widening project, with the National Highway Authority of India planning to upgrade the 4-lane carriageway between Vadpe in Bhiwandi taluka to Thane city to an 8-lane thoroughfare. Officials said NHAI has sought clearance from the Union environment ministry to clear the green cover on the grounds that it will ease traffic in the area.

In a proposal sent to the central ministry in the second week of this month, NHAI has said that the project will need 14.613 ha, equivalent to 41 acres, of forest land and 110.45 ha of non-forested space.

The apex highway authority explained that the existing road from Vadpe to Thane has seen tremendous growth in traffic since it was made a four-lane route as it is a vital link connecting NH8, NH3, NH4 , NH17, bypassing Mumbai city. Over the years, "urban conglomerates" like Thane Municipal Corporation, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation have grown considerably, adding to the vehicular movement on it, says NHAI's proposal. This has prompted the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat to start eight-laning of the corridor, it says.

Old proposal not traceable

Citing a preliminary survey, NHAI said a proposal to divert 13.91 ha had been sent in 1984 but there are no records of it. "During discussion with forest officials, they have suggested to prepare fresh forest proposal for entire 60 meters Right of Way [ROW] and submit it online for approval from Government of India (sic)," reads the proposal. It goes on to say, "The same has been prepared and now the area to be diverted in which NH ROW comes out to 14.613 hectares. The fresh proposal should be processed for approval."

The Thane-Vadpe road along with NH-3 is a part of NH-848, which sees heavy traffic jams during morning and evening peak hours, inconveniencing hundreds of motorists between Thane and Kalyan every day. NHAI has also sought the green ministry's nod to clear 10 ha of mangroves for an NH-3 connector between Balkum and Gaimukh in Thane city.

110.45ha
Non-forested land required for the project