Mumbai Coastal Road Tunnel Closed After Tourist Cab Catches Fire; Traffic Disrupted During Peak Hours
Mumbai Coastal Road Tunnel Closed After Tourist Cab Catches Fire; Traffic Disrupted During Peak Hours
A major traffic disruption occurred on the Mumbai Coastal Road on Thursday morning when a car caught fire inside the southbound tunnel near Tardeo, forcing authorities to temporarily shut both lanes. The incident, which happened around 9:15 am, led to long queues and snarls across connecting routes, causing inconvenience for commuters during peak office hours.
A white Maruti Suzuki Dzire, identifiable as a tourist taxi by its yellow stripe, suddenly caught fire while moving through the tunnel. Thick smoke rapidly filled the enclosed space, prompting traffic police to divert vehicles onto surface roads via the Haji Ali and Worli connectors. “Traffic movement is stopped at Coastal Road (Tardeo) southbound and northbound due to a car fire,” the Mumbai Traffic Police confirmed on X, urging motorists to take alternative routes.
Two fire engines were dispatched immediately through the Breach Candy exit, which was sealed off for safety. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles or causing structural damage to the tunnel. No casualties or injuries were reported.
The fire caused extensive traffic jams along the entire stretch, with vehicles stuck for several kilometres. Commuters shared images and videos online, describing the scene as chaotic and noting that some vehicles had to turn back from the tunnel due to zero visibility. “Looks like some trouble in the Coastal Road tunnel. Vehicles turning back from the tunnel,” one social media user posted, while another described it as a “massive accident” due to the complete shutdown.
Car catches fire inside southbound tunnel on Coastal Road. Traffic diverted at Haji Ali and Worli Connector. Motorists urged to plan routes accordingly. #fire #costal #road #mumbai pic.twitter.com/sWLISgnvOP
— Imtiyaz shaikh (@Imtiyaztimes) September 25, 2025
Traffic gradually resumed by around 10:30 am after the burnt vehicle was safely removed. Police said they will conduct an inquiry with the driver to determine whether any passengers were inside at the time of the incident. Officers from Tardeo, D B Marg, and Marine Drive assisted in redirecting vehicles until normal flow was restored, though residual congestion continued for some time.
कारला आग लागल्याने कॉस्टल रोड टनल (ताडदेव ) येथे दक्षिणेकडे व उत्तरेकडे जाणारी वाहतूक तात्पुरती बंद करण्यात आली आहे . #MTPTrafficUpdate
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) September 25, 2025
The Mumbai Coastal Road, inaugurated for all four-wheelers and buses on August 16 to cut travel time between south Mumbai and the suburbs, had recently witnessed another high-speed incident when a Lamborghini crashed into the divider last Sunday, though the driver escaped unhurt.
