Mumbai: Coastal Road May Stay Open Round the Clock During Ganpati Festival

The Mumbai traffic police department, earlier this week, wrote a letter to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) requesting that the Coastal Road should remain open for 24 hours during the Ganpati festival. The civic body will now review the traffic police’s request and make a decision.

As per reports, traffic increases significantly during the Ganesh festival. There are several restrictions and diversions during the immersion process. By keeping the coastal road open 24 hours a day, the police believe it will ease the traffic load on interior roads. Many drivers could use this route instead. The festival will begin on September 7 and end on September 17.

Currently, the road is available for vehicles only between 7 am and 11 pm. The Coastal Road is closed at night to allow for construction work on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link connection. This construction work is taking place at the northern end of the Coastal Road. The road’s northbound lane is also closed on weekends for work.

Interestingly, authorities are planning to open a portion of the Coastal Road connecting the sea link in the coming weeks. Some minor work still needs to be completed before the official opening.

The Coastal Road is a 10.58-kilometre-long project that costs around INR 14,000 crore. It is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Mumbai’s western region. It connects Worli and Nariman Point. The entire project will eventually connect Nariman Point with Dahisar, Mira Bhayandar, and Palghar.