Mumbai Coastal Road Project: BMC constructs 550-meter underpass for Southbound vehicles
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently undertaking the construction of a 550-meter-long vehicular underpass as part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP). This underpass aims to facilitate the smooth movement of southbound vehicles travelling from Prabhadevi or Worli towards Nariman Point.
Situated between the Worli Seaface and the Worli interchange of the coastal road, this underpass will specifically cater to southbound vehicles. It marks the second underground road project within the MCRP, in addition to the existing 2-kilometer-long undersea tunnels connecting Marine Drive and Priyadarshini Park (PDP).
According to BMC’s plan, the entry point of the underpass will be near JK Kapur Chowk in Worli, while the exit point will be located near the vehicular interchange at Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk near the surface. This strategic positioning will enable motorists travelling from Prabhadevi or Worli to seamlessly transition onto the coastal road via the underpass, with exit points connecting to two arms of the Worli interchange. One arm will provide access to the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL), while the other arm will lead to the main southbound carriageway of the MCRP, facilitating onward travel towards Nariman Point.
Construction of the underpass is currently underway, with authorities targeting its operationalization by October. Presently, the coastal road is operational for southbound traffic during specific hours on weekdays, and the BMC aims to complete the second phase of the MCRP by May 2024.
An official highlighted the underpass’s significance in providing direct access for vehicles from the Sewri-Worli connector to the western suburbs or the southern tip of Mumbai via the coastal road, thereby significantly reducing travel time. Utilizing the conventional Austrian tunnelling method, the underpass will run beneath the Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road, parallel to the Worli Seaface.
With an estimated cost of Rs 13,000 crore, the MCRP spans a length of 10.58 kilometres and includes three vehicular interchanges, enhancing accessibility and connectivity for motorists traversing Mumbai’s coastal areas.
