The undersea tunnel, constructed for ₹13,989 crore, is expected to cut down the current 45-minute commute to just 8 minutes.
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As the Worli to Marine Drive segment of the Coastal Road prepares to open its doors on Monday morning, local residents anticipate it to revolutionize their daily commute.
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Despite the scheduled inauguration of the coastal road at 11 am by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Mumbaikars will only gain access to it beginning at 8 am on Tuesday, March 12th.
During its inauguration on Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised the first phase of the south Mumbai coastal road between Worli and Marine Drive as an “engineering marvel.” He also oversaw the commencement of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) electric buses, designated for women, and a vintage car rally on the newly opened stretch of the Mumbai coastal road.
Atul Kumar, president of Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Association, noted that the Coastal Road’s starting point at the northern end of Marine Drive helps preserve its identity as a heritage precinct, declared by the state government in 2015.
Below is everything you need to know about the ambitious Mumbai coastal road, which boasts a budget of ₹12,721 crore.
The 53-kilometer-long coastal road project, starting on October 13, 2018, will link with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and stretch up to Dahisar.
On his death anniversary (March 11), the first phase of the road, named ‘Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road’ in honor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, opened.
Next to the coastal road in Worli, there will be a statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
The Mumbai Coastal road will include a 2 km-long twin tunnel between Priyadarshini Park and Marine Drive. Each tunnel will have three lanes, while the rest of the road will consist of four lanes on each carriageway, making it the largest tunnel in the country, according to Shinde.
Shinde forecasts Phase 2 of the coastal road to finish by May, with ongoing construction thereafter, leading to smoother traffic flow following the tunnel’s completion.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, more than 75 percent of the work of the entire project is already complete.
In its 2022-23 budget, BMC allocated ₹3200 crore for the Mumbai Coastal Road project.
In the second phase, BMC plans to link a 20.75 km coastal road from Versova to Dahisar in the western suburbs.