Mumbai: Progress continues on the ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project, with a recent milestone achieved as a 44-metre span of the northbound road connecting to the Worli Sea Link was successfully installed.
While sections of the road are expected to be operational by year-end, the project’s full completion will extend into 2024.
The northbound and southbound connectors to the sea link are expected to open by the end of this year, but two key interchange arms – one linking JK Kapur Chowk to the coastal road at Worli and another connecting Baroda Palace to Lotus Jetty – will likely open by March 2024.
According to officials, construction on these arms has been delayed due to dependencies on parking facilities and other infrastructure at Baroda Palace and JK Kapur Chowk.
A major feature of the project includes an 1,857-vehicle parking facility, anticipated to be ready by May 2024. Four underground parking lots are planned near Amarsons Garden at Breach Candy, the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Worli, Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk in Worli, and across from Worli Dairy.
The Amarsons Garden car park will also house an Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC), equipped with Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) to monitor real-time traffic via cameras, sensors, and weather stations, allowing authorities to manage traffic flow, respond to incidents, and improve safety.
Once finished, this 20 metre-wide promenade will surpass Marine Drive’s 3.6 km and include features such as a bicycle track, an open-air theatre, and an underground car park.
Nearly double the length of the iconic Marine Drive promenade, this new pathway will offer a scenic, continuous route for walkers and joggers, accessible via underpasses constructed along the coastal road.
However, delays continue for the promised open public spaces along the coastal road. These areas, intended for walking, jogging, and cycling tracks, along with yoga bays, butterfly gardens, and pedestrian subways, won’t be accessible until late 2024.
“Due to the election code of conduct, we cannot float tenders for landscaping until the elections are over,” explained an official.
Despite the delays, approximately 20,000 vehicles already use the Mumbai coastal road daily. Once complete, the project is expected to ease congestion, enhance connectivity, and provide new recreational spaces for Mumbai residents.
Mumbai’s Coastal Road Project is constructed in two phases. Phase 1 of the project is a 10.58-kilometre stretch from Marine Drive to Worli. The second phase involves connecting the Bandra Sea Link to Kandivali Junction.
