Hundreds of residents from Belapur and Nerul came together on Sunday morning, forming a human chain over a kilometer long near the Walking Track road, to protest the proposed Kharghar-Nerul Coastal Road project. The project is set to pass through the green space of Sector 15, CBD Belapur, which locals regard as the lifeline of their community.

Carrying banners and placards with slogans like “Belapur residents oppose coastal road from our area,” residents and environmental activists rallied to express their opposition. The protest, organized by former Civic body Standing Committee Chairperson and former Corporator Netra Shirke, took place at 7:15 AM, aiming to send a strong message to CIDCO and other civic authorities against the construction of the coastal road through their neighbourhood.

The residents have actively worked to maintain the greenery of the area, planting 30,000 trees through voluntary efforts, and they argue that these should not be sacrificed in the name of development. Netra Shirke has filed a complaint with NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde, urging him to liaise with CIDCO to reroute the proposed coastal road to avoid Sector 15 CBD.

Sandip Naik, who also participated in the protest, emphasized that the coastal road would disrupt the peace of the residential area and negatively impact residents’ lives. He assured participants that he, along with other representatives, would present their demands to CIDCO, NMMC, MMRDA, and the Chief Minister.

One protestor highlighted the contradiction in CIDCO's development plans, stating, “On one side, across the creek, CIDCO is creating a new airport by blasting mountains and destroying greenery, including mangroves. On the other side, they propose linking the Kharghar coastal road through the green zone of Sector 15, which is meant to combat carbon dioxide emissions from the airport. This project threatens to destroy over 30,000 plants and protected mangroves.”

Residents are also considering filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to seek a stay on the project, asserting their commitment to preserving their community's environment.