MMRDA Seeks CRZ Nod for ₹5,140-Crore Thane Coastal Road Phase II Project.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has sought Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the State Coastal Zone Management Authority for its proposed ₹5,140.92-crore Thane Coastal Road Phase II, a key infrastructure project that passes through environmentally sensitive coastal areas, including mangroves and the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.

The authority has submitted a fresh application under the CRZ Notification, 2019, as the proposed 7.13-km road alignment traverses multiple CRZ categories, including CRZ-IA, CRZ-IB, CRZ-II and CRZ-IVB. According to documents filed by MMRDA, the project qualifies under provisions of the notification that allow public infrastructure projects such as coastal roads, subject to environmental safeguards and statutory approvals.

The proposal indicates that the project will impact around 12.72 hectares of mangroves, with approximately 1,733 mangrove trees proposed to be removed. MMRDA said an application for forest clearance is already under process and that a compensatory afforestation plan will be submitted as part of the approval process.

The environmental assessment also underlines the project's proximity to protected ecosystems. A portion of the alignment falls within the ESZ of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, located about 700 metres from the proposed road. The ESZ of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is around 2.6 km away, while the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary lies within an 8-km radius of the project.

As part of the clearance process, MMRDA carried out terrestrial and marine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies between December 2025 and February 2026. The authority has also prepared a disaster management plan and submitted coastal zone maps detailing the road's alignment through the notified CRZ areas.

The proposed six-lane freeway will connect Balkum and Kasheli with Anand Nagar in Mulund East, providing a bypass for regional traffic passing through Thane. According to MMRDA, the project is intended to ease congestion on the Eastern Express Highway and Ghodbunder Road by diverting non-local traffic, reducing travel time, road accidents, vehicular emissions and operating costs.

The CRZ clearance is among the key statutory approvals required before construction can begin. Once completed, the Thane Coastal Road Phase II is expected to strengthen regional connectivity by linking Thane more efficiently with Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.