North-bound section of coastal road to open from Monday

Northward travel will be possible from Marine Drive to Bhulabhai Desai Marg, Barrister Rajni Patel Chowk (Lotus Jetty) and Vatsalabai Desai Chowk

Updated on: Jun 10, 2024, 08:40:19 IST

By Linah Baliga

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MUMBAI: The north-bound section of the Mumbai coastal road will open to motorists on Monday up to Haji Ali. The second underground tunnel will be inaugurated by chief minister Eknath Shinde after conducting an inspection before the road is opened for traffic.

Mumbai, India - June 9, 2024:Dharamveer, Swarajyarakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Second Tunnel under Mumbai Coastal Road (South) will be open from tomorrow by C M Eknath Shinde after inspection by CM and various dignitaries, at Marine Drives, in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, June 9, 2024. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The road will be operational from Monday to Friday each week, remaining closed on weekends to complete the remaining work. Northward travel will be possible from Marine Drive to Bhulabhai Desai Marg, Barrister Rajni Patel Chowk (Lotus Jetty) and Vatsalabai Desai Chowk (Haji Ali Chowk).

The ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road (South) project, overseen by the BMC is over 90 percent complete. Starting Tuesday, the road will be open for regular traffic from 7 am to 11 pm, a span of 16 hours daily. This route will operate from Monday to Friday each week but will remain closed on weekends to facilitate the completion of the remaining work.

Opening the completed portion for transportation will reduce the traffic load and make commuting faster and more comfortable for Mumbaikars. The southbound route from Worli to Marine Drive, which was opened for traffic on March 11, provided significant benefits to the city’s residents.

Now a 6.25-km stretch is being opened for northbound travel, primarily from the Marine Drive area to the Haji Ali area. This route includes interchanges at Amarsons Park and Haji Ali, facilitating traffic access to various parts of the city. Traffic will be eased particularly from Barrister Rajni Patel Chowk towards Worli and Bandra, and from Vatsalabai Desai Chowk towards Tardeo, Mahalakshmi and Peddar Road.

After entering the underground tunnel from Marine Drive, one can exit at Amarsons Park via the interchange. From there, travellers can head south to Marine Drive or north to Barrister Rajni Patel Chowk and Vatsalabai Desai Chowk.

To further facilitate northbound travel, the next phase of the coastal road up to Bindumadhav Thackeray Chowk in Worli is planned to be opened by July 10, with ongoing works in that direction.

BOX

Salient Features of Mumbai Coastal Road Project

• Length of road: 10.58 km

• Lanes: 8

• Total length of bridges: 2.19 km

• Tunnels: 2.07 km each

• Underground parking spaces: 4

• Vehicle parking capacity: 1,856

• Open/Green Spaces: 70 hectares

• Sea defence wall/walkway: 7.47 km

• Promenade: 7.50 km

• Project cost: Estimated ₹13,983 crore

• Scheduled completion: October 2024

*Tunnel Features-*

• India’s largest diameter tunnel (diameter 12.19 m)

• Saccardo ventilation system for the first time in India

*Benefits of the Project*-

• Approximately 70 percent time savings, 34 percent fuel savings

• Will help reduce noise pollution and air pollution

• Separate lanes for buses

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Raghunath Baliga
Leena Raghunath Baliga (byline: Linah Baliga) is Associate Editor with nearly two decades of experience in journalism,and has earlier worked with TOI, DNA and Mumbai Mirror specialising in civic affairs, urban governance and political reporting. Based in Mumbai, she has looked into the functioning of civic administration, public policy and governance, with a particular focus on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), urban infrastructure, housing, redevelopment and city planning. Over the years, she has consistently reported on issues that directly impact citizens, including municipal administration, public health, BEST, environmental concerns, major infrastructure projects and state government policies affecting urban development. Her reporting combines on-ground reporting, making complex civic and governance issues accessible to readers while ensuring accountability in civic administration. She has extensively covered political developments that shape urban policy. Her work has also focused on redevelopment policies, affordable housing and the implementation of major infrastructure projects across Mumbai.She continues to chronicle the evolving and changing landscape of Asia's richest municipal corporation. When she isn't chasing stories or poring over civic documents, she enjoys dabbling in art and unwinding with music. An avid rock 'n' roll enthusiast, she has an anachronistic taste in music, with a playlist that happily skips across decades, filled with timeless classics.Read More