Maharashtra government today signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Netherlands for obtaining technical advice on feasibility of building metro track along the proposed coastal road connecting north and south Mumbai.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing a press conference after a meeting with the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte here, said, "Working with nature is the theme of the project as the Dutch have lot of expertise in reclamation of land." There is enormous scope for collaboration between Maharashtra and the Netherlands in the areas of agri-food, floriculture, biotech, energy, health as well as infrastructure and water management, Fadnavis said.
"The Netherlands is a global expert in creating land and infrastructure in the sea. Nearly 17 per cent of the country's current land mass has been reclaimed from the sea and lakes. Mumbai and the Netherlands are densely populated and because of the shortage of land, it is necessary to create infrastructure in the sea," he added. last month two Dutch government experts visited Mumbai to discuss how the coastal road-cum-metro project could be executed, he said.
"They have reviewed the existing plans with officials of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation," he said. Rutte said at the press conference that as many as 150 Dutch companies are currently doing business across a wide range of industry in the state. "Worldwide, from Jakarta to Panama to New York, ourwater experts are advising governments on how to deal with various challenges. We will now collaborate on Mumbai's infrastructure challenges.
"Our endeavour will be to take all stakeholders on board for broad-based consensus for building with nature. Infrastructure and environment can go hand in hand," Rutte said. Fadnavis said the government of the Netherlands will depute special water envoy Henk Ovink for cooperation in the field of water management.
Rutte said the metro could be connected to the stations of line 3 by underground tunnels with moving walkways, as at the airports. There was no need for land acquisition along the coast and the new coastal road would serve as protection against the rising sea level. lagoons between the present coast and the proposed road can be used as storm water buffers to alleviate city floods during monsoon, said the Dutch Prime Minister.
Fishing harbours may be built along the new coastal road. New land also offers possibility to construct waste water treatment plants, Rutte said, adding that there will be no disruption of city traffic during the construction.