The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), a fully-owned company set up to construct roads and bridges in the state, has appealed to MBPT to adhere to the approved alignment in 1984 and abandon the old Pir Pau jetty while developing the new one. However, MBPT which has agreed to the approved alignment, has conveyed to MSRDC that the old Pir Pau jetty would be kept active and further developed though the new one has been commissioned.

MSRDC managing director RC Sinha told reporters on Wednesday that the old Pir Pau jetty approach channel would violate the security zone of BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre). "The implication of MBPT's stand to oppose the alignment approved by the centre will need at least 600 meters span at two places and 45 metres clearanceabove high tide," Sinha said. He added that it would make the proposed two-lane rail link impossible and there would be perpetual danger of ships carrying chemicals under the bridge getting drifted and hitting the pier. "The project cost will increase by about Rs 600 crore," he said.

Sinha said that MSRDC would support further development of the new Pir Pau jetty and reiterated that MBPT should adhere to the approved alignment. The project includes an eight-lane road bridge with a two-lane rail bridge (optional), traffic dispersal on Mumbai side through the construction of flyovers and elevated roads. On the Navi Mumbai side, there will be road link to NH4, NH17 and Mumbai-Pune expressway.

Sinha said that MSRDC has received confirmation from BARC, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and added that a clearance from the union ministry for environment and forest is awaited.

Sinha said that MSRDC was pursuing with MBPT for confirmation and held three meetings for this purpose. Chief ministerManohar Joshi also met MBPT officials on January 8, 1998. He added that the environment ministry officials had met the ministry of surface transport, MBPT and MSRDC officials this month to sort out the matter.

Sinha said if MSRDC gets all the clearances, it can start project designing from October this year. He informed that Rs 1,000 crore would be needed for project designing and added that if everything goes off smoothly, the project would be completed within five years.

Sinha said that MSRDC, which has already done a feasibility study through Consulting Engineers Services, would raise loans from the state government and state-run corporations, foreign institutional investors (at the rate of 18 per cent) and from abroad. MSRDC will also offer deferred payment at 15 per cent.

Sinha said that Rs 75 will be charged as toll for one way. He added that the project would also reduce congestion on Mumbai roads and lead to faster access to the proposed Mumbai-Pune expressway.