Mumbai coastal road project: Northbound route to Haji Ali opened

CM Eknath Shinde, and Dy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar inaugurate the northbound route. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

With the opening of the second tunnel of the Coastal Road, northbound commuters can now use the route up to Haji Ali Junction. The next phase up to Worli will be open after a month while joining of the arch bridges to the Bandra Worli Sea Link will be completed by October end.

On Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Dy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, visited the tunnel in a vintage car after which the route was thrown open to the public from 4 pm onwards. City Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar, Suburban Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani also were present along with other officials. Northbound traffic up to Haji Ali is allowed from 7 am to 11 pm from Monday to Friday. The route will be closed on weekends to complete the remaining work.

The CM and his convoy driving through a northbound tunnel

Shinde said opening of the northbound route will allow faster movement of traffic in the city and commuters will save around 20 minutes of travel time. There are intersections to access the road at Bhulabhai Desai Marg, Barrister Rajni Patel Chowk (Lotus Jetty) and Vatsalabai Desai Chowk (Haji Ali Junction) on this route. According to Shinde, 6.25 km of the 9 km stretch in the second phase has been opened. The third phase from Nariman Point to Worli will also start by July.

The southbound way of the coastal road from Worli to Marine Drive was opened to the public on March 11. The work on the coastal road was started in October 2018 and it was supposed to be completed within four years. However, after two additional years, the work is still incomplete and now the road is open to the public in phases.

Project highlights:

Length of road: 10.58 km
Lanes: 8
(4+4; 3+3 in tunnels)
Intersections: 3 Tunnels

Double (2.07 km each)
Underground parkings 4 (total capacity: 1,856)
Project Cost (estimated) Rs 13,983 cr

Construction cost Rs 8,429 cr
Start of work
October 13, 2018
Scheduled completion
October 2024