₹13,000 Crore Revas-Redi Marine Highway Stalls as Land Acquisition and Forest Clearance Issues Threaten December 2027 Deadline

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation's (MSRDC) ambitious 498-km Revas-Redi Coastal Highway, commonly referred to as the Marine Highway project, is reportedly facing considerable delays due to persistent land acquisition challenges and pending forest clearance approvals. According to officials, the project, estimated at approximately ₹13,000 crore, was designed to run parallel to the ongoing upgrade of the Mumbai-Goa Highway and serve as a transformative coastal corridor for the Konkan region.

Sources have indicated that while construction work is progressing on certain stretches, significant bottlenecks related to land acquisition and statutory permissions are hampering progress on several critical sections, particularly at creek bridge locations along the infrastructure-driven coastal belt.

Creek Bridge Construction Slowed by Land Acquisition Bottlenecks

Under the first phase of the project, MSRDC is reportedly constructing seven major creek bridges across Dharamtar, Kundalika, Agardanda, Bankot, Kelashi, Jaigad, and Kunkeshwar. Several of these structures are said to be cable-stayed bridges intended to significantly improve connectivity across the Konkan coast, much like how coastal road bridges are transforming Mumbai's connectivity.

However, officials have reportedly acknowledged that the average progress remains limited to between 15% and 20%, with notable slowdowns observed at the Dharamtar, Kundalika, and Agardanda stretches. The Dharamtar creek bridge, a four-lane project, is expected to drastically reduce travel time between Karanja (Uran) and Revas (Alibaug) from two hours to just 30 minutes once completed. Additionally, the bridge is anticipated to shorten the distance between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Alibaug from 55 km to 30 km, potentially boosting logistics and warehousing activities in the region.

According to sources, nearly 8 km of land is yet to be acquired for the Dharamtar stretch alone. Of this, approximately 4.5 km is reportedly government-owned land under Cidco's control, which must be formally transferred to MSRDC before construction can proceed. Furthermore, pending monetary compensation for private landowners is said to be contributing to additional delays.

Forest Clearances and Regulatory Approvals Remain Pending

Progress at the Kundalika and Agardanda creek bridges has also been reportedly sluggish due to similar land and regulatory issues. While some groundwork has resumed, industry observers have expressed concerns that the project risks breaching its targeted December 2027 completion deadline unless these administrative bottlenecks are resolved promptly. Similar challenges have been observed in other mega infrastructure projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

MSRDC officials have reportedly maintained that delays related to acquisition, clearances, and geo-technical assessments typically span 7 to 8 months. They have expressed confidence that momentum would pick up in the coming quarters, helping the project stay on track. The project's success could mirror the impact of the elevated corridor linking MTHL and Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is also expected to be completed by 2027.

Strategic Importance for Mumbai-Konkan Connectivity

The Revas-Redi Marine Highway is envisioned as a critical coastal corridor aimed at easing travel and freight movement between Mumbai and the Konkan region. Once complete, it is expected to serve as a high-speed alternative to the existing Mumbai-Goa route, offering both scenic and strategic economic advantages, particularly in freight logistics, port access, and regional tourism. The corridor could significantly benefit areas like Ulwe and surrounding Navi Mumbai regions that are already witnessing infrastructure-led real estate growth.

The project is also expected to enhance connectivity to Alibaug, a coastal destination that has emerged as a preferred destination for luxury real estate investments among celebrities and high-net-worth individuals. Improved access through the Marine Highway could further accelerate property development in locations near Mumbai that offer investment potential.

Meanwhile, the Konkan MHADA housing initiative continues to address housing demand in the region, and better connectivity through the Marine Highway could further stimulate housing and commercial development along the coastal belt.

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