Click it and Unblock the Notifications
The northbound stretch of Mumbai's Coastal Road, connecting Haji Ali to Worli, has officially opened for traffic. This 3.5-kilometer segment is a crucial part of the larger 12-kilometer Mumbai Coastal Road Project. The newly opened road features tunnels, vehicular interchanges, and bridges, providing a high-speed corridor for the city's commuters.
Citizens can now use this new route, which is expected to significantly reduce the traffic congestion usually experienced between Haji Ali and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. According to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official, the opening of this road will help alleviate the heavy traffic on this busy stretch.
The newly opened segment extends from Haji Ali to Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road in Worli. It is available for vehicular traffic from Monday to Friday between 7 am and 11 pm but will be closed on weekends for ongoing construction work. This partial opening is part of a phased approach to avoid traffic jams while construction continues.
The next phase of the project, which connects the south-bound arm to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, is expected to be completed within three weeks. The entire Coastal Road, built at a cost of ₹13,000 crore, is anticipated to be operational until the Bandra-Worli Sea Link by October this year. This comprehensive project aims to create a seamless travel experience for Mumbai's residents and visitors.
However, there have been some delays due to weather conditions. "Due to heavy rains, the bitumenization and asphalting couldn't be done on the 3.5 km of the coastal road," said Saini, a BMC official. "We were expecting the dry spell in the monsoon to go ahead. This way, we wanted to properly tar it and finish with the technicalities, and it will now happen."
The BMC will also review the deadlines for completing the entire coastal road from Princess Street flyover at Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. So far, around 91% of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project has been completed. The project is being inaugurated in stages to manage traffic flow and minimize disruptions.
The ₹13,983 crore project commenced on October 13, 2018. The first phase of the project, a 9.5-kilometer-long south-bound corridor from Bindu Madhav Chowk in Worli to Marine Drive, was opened on March 11. The second phase, a 6.25-kilometer north-bound carriageway between Marine Drive and Lotus Junction at Haji Ali, was made operational on June 10.
With the opening of the northbound stretch, Mumbai residents can look forward to a smoother and quicker commute between Haji Ali and Worli. The completion of the Coastal Road Project promises to bring significant improvements to the city's transportation infrastructure, reducing travel times and easing traffic congestion.
As the project progresses, the city awaits the final completion, which will further enhance connectivity and provide a modern, efficient travel route for thousands of daily commuters.
