The Mumbai Coastal Road, an ambitious project of the Maharashtra government is a 29.2 kilometre long freeway that will connect the Marine Lines in South Bombay to the western suburb of Kandivali in North Mumbai. It will be an 8-lane expressway that will help reduce the commute time from 2 hours to just 40 minutes. The project’s foundation was laid in December 2018 and is expected to be complete by November 2023. The project’s estimated cost is Rs. 12,000 crores excluding rehabilitation, acquisition and landscaping costs.
Recent updates: Mumbai Coastal Road Map
February 2023: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed 58% of the work on the first phase of the project.
March 2023: The BMC has awarded the contract for the construction of the second phase of the project to a consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Shapoorji Pallonji.
April 2023: The BMC has started work on the construction of the promenade along the Coastal Road.
May 2023: The BMC has said that the first phase of the project is expected to be completed by December 2023.
The Mumbai Coastal Road project is a major infrastructure project that is expected to have a significant impact on the city. The project is expected to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create jobs. The project is also expected to boost the economy of Mumbai.
The project has been facing several challenges, including environmental concerns, protests from local residents, and delays in land acquisition. However, the project is moving forward and is expected to be completed in the next few years.
How will the Mumbai Coastal Road Project Route Map benefit the city?
Ease in traffic congestion: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) states that the expressway's development will reduce annual fuel savings by 34% and travel time by 70%.
Better environmental surroundings: According to the government, constructing the Coastal Road would create 91 hectares of green space, which will lower the city's pollution levels and lessen environmental worries.
Improved infrastructure: A 6.5 km long promenade, running and cycling pathways, and an outdoor theatre will all be built as part of the project. Additionally, a 6.5 km seawall along the coastal route will be made. It is intended to provide three parking lots with a capacity of about 2,000 cars at the Amarsons, Haji Ali, and Worli interchanges.
Challenges faced during the construction of Mumbai Coastal Road Map
Seeing the scale of the project, it was never going to be an easy journey. The venture was heavily criticised by locals, environment specialists and the fishermen’s community. The Koliwada fishermen community opposed the project as they were worried that it will affect their only source of livelihood. They even demanded that the gap between the pillars should be increased from 60 metres to 200 metres.
According to ‘Bandra Collective’, a group of urban planners and architects, the coastal road will not be pleasant to watch and will affect the aesthetic of Mumbai’s skyline. They also claimed that it is a waste of money as it will not solve any of the traffic congestion issues.
Packages
The project includes three civil packages:
- Package 1
| Stretch | Lanes | Contractor | Contract Value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priyadarshani Park to Baroda Palace (3.82 km) | 8 lanes | Larsen & Toubro (L&T) | Rs 7,489 crore (P1 and P4) | Under construction |
- Package 2
| Stretch | Lanes | Deadlines | Contractor | Contract Value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baroda Palace near Haji Ali to the Worli end of Bandra Worli Sea Link (2.23 km) | 8 lanes | 48 months (4 years) | HCC-HDC JV (Hindustan Construction Company – Hyundai Development Corporation) | Rs 2,126 crore | Under construction |
- Package 4
| Stretch | Lanes | Contractor | Contract Value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Street Flyover to Priyadarshani Park (3.93 km) with twin 1920 m tunnels under Malabar Hills | 6 lanes (2 x 2 lanes + 1 emergency) | Larsen & Toubro (L&T) | Rs 7,489 crore (P1 and P4) | Under construction |
Construction
The construction of the project has been divided into two phases-
Phase 1: The project's first phase is a 9.98 km segment that runs from Marine Lines' Princess Street Flyover to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL).
Phase 2: The second phase consists of the 19.22 km road built by the MSRDC that connects the Bandra end of the BWSL to Kandivali. The 9.5 km Versova-Bandra Sea Link is part of this phase.
Coastal Road route map
South of the Princess Street Flyover, the traffic light at Wankhede Stadium marks the start of the Coastal Road. From the traffic light close to the stadium, a two-lane road will be built for northbound traffic. The road will be constructed using a portion of the already existing C-shaped promenade and a new 1 km road and 8-10 metre wide promenade will be made to compensate for the loss of pedestrian space. The new promenade will provide a linear pedestrian path from the NCPA to Girgaum Chowpatty by running parallel to Coastal Road on its seaward side, crossing the tunnel near Charni Road station, and continuing north along the alignment.
The project will take up a piece of the Wilson Gymkhana grounds and narrow the current service road to one lane with a pathway that is 6.6 metres wide. Malabar Hill is crossed by the tunnels, and the Coastal Road then continues to the north before emerging above ground.
The road crosses a bridge close to the Samudra Mahal structure before continuing on ground that has been reclaimed and crossing another bridge over the Worli Nullah. The Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is connected to the Coastal Road by a minor sea link as it travels farther north on reclaimed ground.
There will also be interchanges on this coastal road at Haji Ali, Breach Candy, Amarsons Garden, Worli, and Bandra. There will also be four feeder roads and a multi-level construction at the Haji Ali interchange, which makes it easy to access the Coastal Road from any direction that approaches the Haji Ali signal.
Major localities along the Mumbai Coastal Road
- Marine Drive:
Marine Drive is one of the most expensive areas of South Mumbai and a tourist favourite. There are a lot of popular localities surrounding it which include Malabar Hills, Churchgate and Girgaon. Also, there are numerous high-rise residential projects around Marine Drive like Vibrant Bayvue, Sunrise Venetia and Morya Wellington Terrace. The area is also extremely favoured as a commercial hub with high footfall.
- Mahalaxmi:
Mahalakshmi is a posh residential area in Mumbai. The demand for real estate in this area has been impacted by the area's close proximity to the sea and excellent connectivity to the Lower Parel and Worli employment centers. Among the upscale housing complexes in this region are Piramal Mahalakshmi, Lodha Primero, Raheja Vivarea, and Lodha Bellissimo.
- Worli:
Worli is the most opulent and expensive residential district in Mumbai. It is positioned between two of the city's most significant commercial hubs, the Bandra-Kurla Complex and Nariman Point. Some of the best developers in the city provide high-end flats in the area. Also, the neighbourhood is home to a large number of luxurious hotels, entertainment venues, shopping centers, and fine dining establishments.
All the communities that are located along the Coastal Road, from South Mumbai to Kandivali, are expected to be benefitted from its construction. It would improve connectivity by reducing congestion on the Eastern Freeway, Western Express Highway (WEH), and local railroad line. Additionally, it would make South Mumbai's commercial hubs accessible to everyone. This will increase the demand for properties in the adjacent areas and drive up real estate prices.
