Mumbai: Coastal Road Project is 70% complete, informs MMRC chief Ashwini Bhide; See visuals

Mumbai: The Mumbai Coastal Road is 70% complete. The 10.58km project with 2.07km twin tunnels aims to decongest city roads and provide signal-free travel.

“Mumbai Coastal Road project (South) being implemented by the MCGM from Princess Street Flyover to Bandra-Worli SeaLink is 70% complete,” tweeted Ashwini Bhide, Additional Municipal Corporation, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, on Saturday.

In November, the project was 65% ready and authorities aim to make it open later this year, that is Nov 2023.

Being undertaken between Nariman Point and Worli, the project commenced atthe end of 2018. Despite reservations and protests by residents, the State Government has insisted that it will reduce travel time by 70% and fuel consumption by 34%.

Average speed on coastal road estimated to be around 75 kmph

The average vehicular speed on Mumbai’s roads is around 20-21 kmph. On the Mumbai Coastal Road, the same is estimated to be around 75 kmph for cars, similar to that on Bandra Worli Sea Link. The entire project has been divided into three packages and involves reclamation of 111 hectares of the Arabian Sea. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) now plans to connect the Coastal Road with the Eastern Freeway via a tunnel.

When the project took off in 2018, its overall cost was calculated at Rs12,700 crore, but has escalated owing to delays. With nearly a year to go before completion, the final figure may go up further.

Coastal Road Project details

The Mumbai Coastal Road Project stretches upto 10.58 km and has 2.07-km-long twin tunnels. This would be Mumbai’s second twin tunnel, the first twin tunnels are part of the Eastern Freeway near Chembur.

The alignment starts from BD Somani Chowk on Marine Drive, which is next to the Princess Street Flyover and will be merged with Bandra Worli Sea Link on the Worli side.

Along the route, there are three interchanges for motorists to enter and exit the Coastal Highway. The cost of the project that took off in 2018, was estimated at Rs 12,700 crore. Since then, due to delays, it has escalated.

The average speed on Mumbai’s roads is around 20–21 kmph. On the Mumbai Coastal Road, it is estimated to be around 75kmph for cars, similar to that on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.