Package 5: Measures Being Taken to Maintain Ecological Balance

The proposed Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg is divided into five packages. Package 5 of the project includes Thane district. The administration has a huge responsibility of ensuring that while providing basic infrastructure facilities to the citizens, the ecological balance doesn’t get disrupted. The same care has been taken while planning and executing the Samruddhi Mahamarg Project. Let us find out more about the relevant measures being taken in Package 1 that includes Thane district…

The Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg will start from Nagpur district, the Interchange at Shivmadka in Nagpur being the starting point of the proposed highway. Package 5 of the project includes Thane district. The highway will pass through 41 villages in Thane district where, with the help of environmental experts and as per their guidance, trees will be planted on both sides of the highway.

The Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Thane district in Package 5 is one of the important sanctuaries in Maharashtra. While finalizing the designs of the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, it came to the MSRDC’s notice that the highway passes through some villages falling in the Eco Sensitive Zone of the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. The MSRDC immediately initiated surveys in the relevant villages to determine the amount and extent of territory occupied by animals in the sanctuary.

The MSRDC discussed the findings from this survey with the Forest Department (Wildlife). During this discussion the Forest Department (Wildlife) made some notable suggestions in order to realize the dream of sustainable development by keeping the rich biodiversity intact.

After careful study of the findings of the survey and the suggestions made by the Forest Department (Wildlife), the MSRDC, under the guidance of experts, prepared the “Wildlife Conservation Plan”. All the relevant documents in this regard have been submitted to the Forest Department. The “Wildlife Conservation Plan” highlights important measures to be undertaken to preserve the biodiversity in the sanctuary. Additionally, with the construction of overpasses, underpasses and viaducts, the MSRDC plans to achieve its objective of constructing the Samruddhi Mahamarg without disturbing the environment.

In order to ensure that traffic woes do not escalate in the future, leading to traffic congestions, environmentally balanced solutions have been chalked out in Package 5 to create characteristic infrastructure facilities. In order to avoid causing any damage to natural resources like rivers and tree plantations, the following care is being taken in the construction of the proposed highway in Package 5 –

• A total of 32 vehicle underpasses and vehicle overpasses will be constructed in Thane district under Package 5.
• Keeping in mind environmental concerns, Package 5 will include 12 special underpasses for pedestrians and animals.

The Corporation has planned the above compositions keeping in mind the convenience of the villagers as well as based on a study of the prevalent ecosystems.