Mumbai, July 21 -- The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to change the design of the Cuffe Parade-Nariman Point connector to bypass fishing areas and prevent the removal of slum tenements along the route. The decision was taken by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, following concerns raised by legislative assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar, officials said. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Narwekar said the earlier design - comprising a bridge along the entire route - would have required the demolition of more than 250 slum tenements and come in the way of fishing boats. "With the change in design, no slum will be removed and fishing boats will not be obstructed. The new alignment will also cost less," he said. According to MMRDA officials, the connector will start at Badhwar Park and end near the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA). It will travel past Machimar Nagar, Manora MLA hostel and the southern end of the NCPA to land on Marine Drive, said Vishal Jambhale, chief engineer, MMRDA. Earlier, the MMRDA had to change the design of the coastal road to accommodate fishing boats at Worli while the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation had to change design of Worli-Bandra Sealink over similar concerns. Jambhale said a 418-metre double-decker flyover would be part of the 1.869-km Cuffe Parade-Nariman Point connector, to accommodate more traffic along a narrow stretch. The state government will have to acquire 1,765.52 square metres of land to facilitate the project. "The travel time from Nariman Point to Colaba during peak hours is around 35 minutes at a speed of 12kmph, which will become 12 minutes with a speed of 35 kmph. Considering average peak hour traffic at 2,500 vehicles/hour, 960 hours would be saved," the MMRDA said....