Five animal crossings are to be built by the BMC on Aarey Road that is to be widened as part of the proposed Goregaon-Mulund Link Road.
The 16-km Goregaon-Mulund Link Road will run through Saki-Vihar, Powai, LBS Marg in Mulund. The Aarey Colony Road will be widened up to six lanes till Saki Vihar after which an elevated motorway will be constructed till LBS Marg, Mulund.
The civic body has roped in wildlife experts and activists to identify animal trails in Aarey Colony; plans are afoot to fence Aarey Road.
“Instead of widening the existing road, the BMC should consider the option of constructing an elevated road, which will not affect biodiversity. There will be no need to cut trees and animals will also be able to move freely,” said Sunish Subramanian, founder of NGO Plants and Animal Welfare Society .
The BMC’s animal crossings will be on the lines of the prototypes in the Netherlands. “The project cost has not yet been finalized and we are currently preparing the detailed project report. We are taking precautions to ensure that Aarey Colony’s biodiversity is not affected. We will replant as many trees as possible,” said additional municipal commissioner SVR Srinivas.
In the BMC’s original plan, the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road would terminate on LBS Marg, now the proposed motorway will extend up to the Eastern Express Highway. Animal activists say the BMC should construct an elevated road at Aarey Colony to avoid cutting of trees and “restricting animal movement”.
“We are already witnessing how animals are being run over on Ghodbunder Road,” said Anand Pendharkar of Sprouts Environment Trust. “Any motorway through a wildlife corridor will imperil animals. I have little faith in the system especially considering the history of infrastructure development,” he added.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/5-wildlife-crossings-on-cards-in-Aarey-Colony/articleshow/42400057.cms