The northbound bridge connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was opened on Monday, January 27, for public use. Along with the bridge, three new interchanges were also opened. These interchanges connect key areas such as Lotus Junction, Lower Parel, Worli, and Prabhadevi. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on January 26.
🌉 CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates the North Channel Bridge, linking Dharmaveer, SwarajyaRakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road and the Worli-Bandra Sea Link
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 26, 2025
🌉 मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांच्या हस्ते धर्मवीर, स्वराज्यरक्षक छत्रपती संभाजी महाराज मुंबई कोस्टल… pic.twitter.com/lUJxbnWxHn
The new stretches are expected to reduce travel time between Bandra and Marine Drive to just 10-15 minutes. It will be open daily from 7 am to midnight.
From March 12 to December 31, 2024, over 50 lakh vehicles used the Coastal Road. On average, 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles travel the route daily. Once the Prabhadevi connector is completed in February, the entire road will be fully operational. Currently, 94% of the construction is complete.
The first phase of the Coastal Road stretches from the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive. This stretch covers 10.58 kilometres and features eight lanes. It also includes advanced infrastructure such as twin tunnels, an elevated road, and a bridge on stilts.
A major highlight of the project is India's first underwater tunnel. This 2.07-kilometre twin tunnel has a diameter of 12.19 meters and runs 17 to 20 meters below sea level. It begins near Girgaon, passes under the Arabian Sea, Girgaon Chowpatty, and Malabar Hill, and ends at Priyadarshini Park in Breach Candy. One side of the tunnel has been operational since March 2024.
The southbound arm of the Coastal Road from Worli to Marine Drive opened on March 11. The northbound section from Marine Drive to Haji Ali began operations on June 10. The segment between Haji Ali and Worli became operational on July 11.
The newly opened northbound bridge measures 827 meters in length, 699 meters in height, and has a 128-meter access road. It features a 'Bow Arch String Girder' that is 143 meters long, 27 meters wide, and 31 meters high, weighing 2,400 metric tonnes.
The project will create 70 hectares of green space. This includes bike lanes, jogging paths, public parks, and outdoor auditoriums. New recreational areas will be available to the city's residents. Additionally, a seawall has been proposed to prevent erosion and protect the project from strong waves.
The second phase of the project, now under construction, will extend 20 kilometres between Versova and Dahisar. The Coastal Road has reduced the travel time between Girgaon and Worli from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes. It has also significantly shortened the time to travel from South Mumbai to the airport.
Work on the Mumbai Coastal Road began in 2018. So far, the project has cost INR 14,000 crore. The project was part of Mumbai's 1967 master plan. It faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, pushing its completion past the original 2022 deadline.
Share
Tweet
