Mumbai coastal road’s Worli-Marine Drive arm may open in February

Mumbai’s Coastal Road, a 10.58 km stretch from Marine Drive to Worli, is scheduled to open by around February 9, 2024, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This road will enable vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 80 km/h, although the design allows for speeds of 100 km/h. It is considered to be the most expensive project of the BMC yet. It will connect the Marine Drive area in south Mumbai to Kandivali, a western suburb, via the existing Bandra Worli Sea Link.

It is expected to ease Mumbai’s northbound traffic. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the first phase of the coastal road, spanning from Marine Drive to Worli, is set to become operational by the end of January 2024. The first phase of the project is a 10.58-km stretch between Marine Drive to Worli in south Mumbai.

Shinde highlighted Maharashtra as a growth engine with the highest number of infrastructure projects in the country. Additionally, he mentioned the imminent completion of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) project from Sewri to Nhava Sheva, which will significantly reduce travel time from 2 hours to 15 minutes for a 22 km distance.

Here are some of the key features:

• The travel time between North and South Mumbai will be reduced from 40 minutes to 12 minutes
• For the first time, the country will get an undersea tunnel that will be a 40 feet wide corridor
• The Traffic Management Control System, equipped with CCTV cameras every 100 meters, will monitor vehicle speed and violations will lead to penalties. 
• The Coastal Road features an 8 km walkway and cycle track, earning it the title of Mumbai’s second Marine Drive. The route also includes promenades, providing scenic views and entry points at various locations. 

Do you know the reason why it was difficult to build the coastal road?

– SRDP of the coastal road was made in the year 1967

– Permission had to be taken from 19 agencies

– Work started in the year 2018 after getting the green signal from the Supreme Court

– Making a tunnel under Malabar Hill and the sea is a big challenge

– From Marine Drive to Priyadarshini Park 2.07 km long tunnel

The coastal road aims to reduce travel time and fuel consumption while enhancing connectivity. However, concerns have been raised about potential traffic issues and lack of preparation for increased congestion in South Mumbai. 

The project, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 13,983 crore, has faced challenges since its inception in 1967 but is now nearing completion, marking a significant infrastructure development for Mumbai.