Coastal Road Delays Trigger Exit Jams

Mumbai’s much-anticipated Coastal Road project, a grand infrastructure endeavour projected to transform city commutes, has begun operation in phases this year. Despite the excitement surrounding the INR 14,000 crore project, the reality on the ground has been marred by unexpected traffic congestion, particularly at exit points.

Initially conceived in the 1967 Development Plan and redesigned in 2012, the Coastal Road represents a significant leap in Mumbai’s infrastructure. The road, which stretches 10.58 kilometres from Marine Drive to the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL), is designed to alleviate traffic woes across the city. However, as of July 11, when the road’s latest segment from Marine Drive to Worli was opened, the benefits promised by this extensive project remain partially unrealised. While the road offers a swift drive between Marine Drive and Worli, this efficiency is overshadowed by severe bottlenecks at the exits. Motorists now face prolonged delays once they reach Worli, contrary to expectations of a smoother, quicker journey.

The project’s phased openings—starting with the southbound section from Worli to Marine Drive on March 11, followed by the northbound segment up to Haji Ali on June 10, and the latest stretch from Haji Ali to Worli—have been marred by persistent traffic jams, particularly at the critical exit points. A motorist’s complaint on social media highlights the ongoing issue: “The northbound coastal road traffic choke point has now shifted from Haji Ali to Worli Sea Face. Last night, it took 30 minutes to cover a short distance from Worli Dairy to the entrance of the Worli side of the sea link.”

Authorities acknowledge the traffic congestion but attribute it to the road’s incomplete status. A senior official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) explained, “The convergence of four-lane traffic from the Coastal Road with two-lane traffic from Worli Sea Face at the same point is creating a bottleneck. The connector from the Coastal Road to the sea link is under construction and requires a dry spell of 8-10 days for critical waterproofing and asphalting work. Full operational capability, including the remaining arch bridge spans, is expected by November.” Critics argue that the planning for exits and congestion management has been inadequate, reflecting a broader trend of traffic issues at flyover landings throughout Mumbai, such as those experienced at the Santacruz Chembur Link Road and the BKC Connector.

Civic officials have indicated that the Coastal Road, including both north- and southbound connections to the sea link, will likely be fully operational by late 2024. Post-completion, work will shift towards developing surrounding open spaces, including parks and cycle tracks, although concerns persist about restricted access to these areas.