New govt revitalizes Goa highway project

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  Four-Laning Put On NHAI Priority List A week is not yet up since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet assumed office and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already put on its immediate agenda for land acquisition and widening work four stretches of the accident-prone MumbaiGoa highway where a fourlaning project has faced starting trouble. These four stretches together make up 371 km from Indapur to Zara. "We got a call from NHAI saying that acquisition process was being taken to the official and legal paperwork stage to release funds for compensation and construction work," an official linked with the project said. The man in the Cabinet with the transport & highways portfolio is Nitin Gadkari, the brains behind the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Officials said road work on the Goa highway would begin after a year and take at least three years to complete. National Highway 17, as it is officially called, is largely a two-lane affair without dividers and has seen the most accidents and deaths in the state in recent years. An official with the PWD said nods would be required from railways, forest and electricity departments. Once the highway is widened, the one-way toll might be Rs 350 to 400 for a car. Other pending issues are restriction on expansion along the Karnala bird sanctuary, Indapur villagers' flyover demand, and nonperforming contractors.

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Illegal Campa Cola residents dig in their heels



Illegal residents of Worli's Campa Cola compound are headed on a collision course with the civic authorities as they have declined to vacate their flats once the Supreme Court deadline ends on May 31.

Nandini Mehta, a member of the affected residents' core committee, said, "We cannot hand over the keys of our homes simply because the families have nowhere to go. Even if one family becomes homeless, we will all stay put."

Asked if that would put them in direct confrontation with the BMC, she said, "How much worse can it get?
Our backs are to the wall."

The BMC has issued notices to illegal flat owners asking them to hand over the keys of their flats to the BMC between May 29 and June 2.

The BMC has said that if the residents do not give possession of their flats, it will approach the Supreme Court. The residents had given an undertaking to the top court that they will vacate the flats by May 31, the deadline set by the court.

Civic officials have said they will not try to forcefully evict the residents, unlike last time, when critics had called the approach inhuman.

"We have decided to approach the top court and not get into an ugly fight this time. We will go to court straight if the illegal residents do not vacate their flats and let the SC decide what is to be done," said a senior civic official.

Parshva Shah, who lives in Orchid Apartments, says the mood in the compound is one of uncertainty .
The 23-year-old law student said on Wednesday , "My flat is among the unaffected ones and so does not face the threat of demolition. But of course, we are solidly behind our neighbours who have been our friends for 20 years. My mother, who suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, is anxious since the deadline is so near.
We have no idea how the civic author ities plan to keep the elevators functioning till the legal fifth floor only, and whether they will disconnect our water supply and electricity con nection, and if our homes will be damaged by the demolition of the floors above."

Shah said the residents hope for "something positive, some manner of divine intervention", like the previous two occasions when the illegal floors were to be demolished.

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REALTY CHECK Developers take freeway route to sell their projects

Mumbai: Developers launching projects are using the Eastern Freeway as a marketing tool by highlighting the reduced commuting time to South Mumbai. 

    With property prices in areas like Chembur increasing by 25% over the last two years, a report says areas closest to the freeway's entry and exit ramps will emerge as stronger locations. 
    These are the Anik, Chembur-Mankhurd Link Road and Panjrapol Link Road areas, said global property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle India (JLLI) in its report 'Eastern Freeway – The Latest Game-Changer For Mumbai Real Estate'. 
    With the development potential of Mumbai's western suburbs almost fully exploited, the eastern suburbs are witnessing increased momentum in new development where land parcels are still available and prices more affordable. The 16.8-km freeway that connects P D'Mello Road in South Mumbai to the Eastern Express Highway at Ghatkopar has sprung into sharp focus with developers. 
    "The implications in terms of demand, supply and price are considerable. We have seen a steady increase in inquiries for residential and commercial spaces close to the freeway's entry and exit ramps, and developers have begun marketing projects with an emphasis on their proximity to this key arterial route,'' said Ramesh Nair, COO-operations (JLLI). 
    Chembur's property prices have risen by 25% over the past two years primarily because of its proximity to the freeway. Siddarth Kapoor, who resides near Diamond Garden, Chembur, said his daily commute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in South Mumbai is a dream. "It takes me under 25 minutes to reach in the morning,'' he said. 
    Kanjurmarg, Kurla, Powai and Ghatkopar saw residential property prices increase by 32%, 29%, 27% and 23% respectively in 2012. The report said this year-on-year increase in prices is also attributable to increase in superior projects with innovative concepts in these areas. LBS Marg has seen the arrival of luxury hotels. 
    The completion of the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road is also expected to lead to 
more traffic coming in from the north of the secondary business district of the Bandra-Kurla Complex. "This will trigger a fresh spate of development in catchment areas surrounding the alternate route to the central business district,'' it said. 
    The report said there will be further eastward movement of real estate development into locations like Sewri. "But areas closest to the freeway's entry and exit ramps—specifically Orange Gate, Anik Junction, Chembur-Mankhurd Link Road and Panjarpol Link Road—will emerge as stronger locations. Thanks to the new impetus, real estate markets in these areas, which see high residential property absorption, will also see greater demand and consequently upward pricing momentum,'' it added. 
    "In the long-term, certain land parcels held by the Mumbai Port Trust could be released for development. If and when this happens, the freeway's presence will ensure these parcels will attract considerable premium. Many industrial units in catchment areas of the freeway may move out, augmenting supply of prime property for commercial and residential development along the freeway,'' said Nair. 
THE EAST-WEST DIVIDE 
    South Mumbai may witness a small jump in absorption, considering improved accessibility 
    Nearly 35,000 vehicles use the Eastern Freeway each day 
    Central Mumbai will witness acceleration in supply and absorption, and a moderate jump in rental/ capital values 
    BKC will see a moderate impact, which could improve once the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road comes up 
    Andheri will show, if at all, a mild negative impact as the eastern suburbs will now compete with it as an option for real estate 
    The western suburbs will largely remain unaffected by the freeway, but the contrast between the eastern suburbs--where many infrastructure projects are being undertaken--and the crowded western suburbs may become more pronounced, resulting in price pressure in the western suburbs 
    The eastern suburbs will see maximum impact, with a sizeable increase in supply, absorption and rental/capital values across segments

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