Thane Coastal Road-2 Receives Environmental Clearance Recommendation
The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority has recommended environmental clearance for the Thane Coastal Road-2, pending central approval.
MCZMA has recommended clearance for the 7.12 km Thane Coastal Road-2.
The project will impact 3,754 mangroves, with 680 permanently lost.
Approval from the Union Environment Ministry is still required.
The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has officially recommended environmental clearance for the Thane Coastal Road-2, which spans 7.12 kilometers. This decision was made during the authority's 202nd meeting on September 24, 2026, and the proposal has now been sent to the Union Environment Ministry for further consideration.
The road project is being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which had previously deferred the proposal in August, requesting an examination of alternative routes to minimize damage to local mangrove ecosystems. However, the MMRDA later informed the MCZMA that no alternative alignments could significantly reduce the impact on mangroves, citing constraints from existing developments and Thane Creek.
The construction of the road is expected to affect a total of 3,754 mangroves, with 680 of them permanently lost due to the planned foundations for the elevated road’s piers. Additionally, 1,053 mangroves may suffer damage during construction but are anticipated to be restored, while 2,021 mangroves are expected to remain largely unaffected. To mitigate environmental impacts, the MMRDA has proposed an elevated viaduct design, increasing the spacing between piers from 30 meters to 50 meters to reduce the number of foundations needed.
The MCZMA's recommendation includes several conditions aimed at environmental protection, such as conducting compensatory mangrove plantations in consultation with the Mangrove Cell, implementing an Environmental Management Plan, and monitoring the project's environmental impacts. Despite this progress, the project still awaits final approval from the Union Environment Ministry and other relevant authorities.
Once completed, the Thane Coastal Road-2 will connect Anand Nagar in Mulund East to Balkum in Thane, running alongside Thane Creek. This road is planned as an extension of the existing Thane Coastal Road-1 and will link to the proposed Kopri-Patni bridge and the extension of the Eastern Express Highway.
