Starting Saturday, September 21, the Mumbai Coastal Road will be accessible to traffic every day from 7 AM to midnight, a significant change aimed at improving commuter convenience. Previously, the southern arm operated from 7 AM to 11 PM, with the northern arm closed on weekends.
During the Ganeshotsav festival, the Coastal Road remained open 24/7 to facilitate smoother travel for the influx of visitors. However, with the festival concluded, regular operating hours have been reinstated.
Route Details and Accessibility
The Coastal Road spans crucial segments, including the southern carriageway from Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk, Rajani Patel Chowk (Lotus Junction), and Amarsons Garden to Marine Drive. The northern carriageway extends from Marine Drive, passing Haji Ali, and connects to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link). Recently, one side of the bridge linking the Coastal Road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link opened for northbound traffic on September 13.
Key milestones in the Coastal Road’s development include:
- Southern arm (Worli to Marine Drive) opened on March 12.
- Northern arm (Marine Drive to Haji Ali) opened on June 10.
- 3.5 km stretch from Haji Ali to Abdul Gaffer Khan opened on July 11.
Currently, about 92% of the Coastal Road project has been completed, with ongoing work necessitating nightly closures of the road from midnight to 7 AM for construction on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link connector.
Project Impact
The Coastal Road, which spans 10.58 km from the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, features two twin tunnels, each 2.072 km long with an internal diameter of 11 meters. Designed with a 4+4 lane configuration, this vital infrastructure project has reportedly reduced travel time by 70% and fuel consumption by 34%, significantly easing congestion in one of India’s busiest cities.
As Mumbai embraces this enhanced connectivity, commuters can now enjoy greater flexibility and efficiency on their daily travels.
