Bandra Fort seawall plan gets CRZ clearance for 370m upgrade

The Maharashtra Maritime Board has received CRZ clearance for a plan to strengthen a 370-metre stretch of Bandra Fort’s shoreline and build a watch deck.

The board’s proposal describes damage to the existing coastal protection: armour stones have shifted, the seawall crest has eroded, rock fill beneath the promenade has been scoured, and cavities have formed below parts of the concrete pavement. An IIT Bombay assessment cited in the proposal found that the site is directly exposed to Arabian Sea waves, with a tidal range of about 4.95 metres and severe monsoon conditions.

The plan includes filling gaps between the promenade pavement and seawall crest, rearranging stones into a slope, and adding layers of stones and two-tonne tetrapods. A concrete wall, slab, crown wall and drainage openings are also proposed to manage wave overtopping during the monsoon.

A pile-supported precast concrete watch deck covering 523.1 sq m is proposed for coastal surveillance and observation. Before work begins, the board must implement mitigation measures and an Environment Management Plan, and secure the remaining statutory permissions.