The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is resisting the public demand to open the southbound arm of the Mumbai coastal road, citing potential disruptions to ongoing work on the northbound arm. Originally slated for November 2023, the opening of the southbound stretch faced delays due to technical issues. Plans are now in motion to open this section of the bridge by mid-February next year, with the entire coastal road project set to conclude by May 2024.
An unnamed senior civic official has expressed concerns about potential disruptions in vehicular movement if the southbound bridge is opened. The pressure to initiate the coastal road project is urging BMC officials to devise a plan for public use of the southbound lanes. While the overall completion of the Mumbai coastal road is at 86%, pending tasks include the connector between the coastal road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
BMC officials, in coordination with the traffic police, are considering strategies for traffic management, including single barricading and speed humps.
The connecting bridge from the coastal road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link at the Worli-end is expected to be finished by May 2024. Modifications in design and pillar distance, accommodating the demands of the local fisherman community, have led to delays and an increased project cost of Rs 820 crore.
The initial project cost of Rs 12,721 crore has now escalated to Rs 13,060 crore due to changes in the coastal road and sea link connector design. The total project length spans 10.58 km from Worli to Nariman Point.
Initiated in December 2018, the coastal road construction faced challenges such as damage to the Tunnel Boring Machine, legal battles in the Supreme Court, and extended distances between pillars at the Worli bridge. With Lok Sabha elections expected between April and May and the election code of conduct likely to begin in mid-February, the state government has decided to inaugurate the Mumbai Trans Harbour project between Sewri and Nhava Sheva by January-end. Despite challenges, the coastal road remains a significant and ambitious project for the city.