The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has completed 68 per cent of work on a new suburban railway corridor between Panvel and Karjat line, 31 per cent work on Virar-Dahanu quadrupling and upgrade of 17 suburban railway stations in Mumbai are underway. "As we all know, MRVC was established to plan and implement the rail component of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). Over the past two decades, our team has made significant contributions to the development of the Mumbai suburban rail system and has worked tirelessly to meet expectations," Subhash Chand Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation said. "We celebrated MRVC’s Silver Jubilee on July 12 with great enthusiasm. Due to your hard work and dedication, a capital expenditure of Rs 1,874 crore was achieved in the financial year 2023-24, and as of December 31, 2024, Rs 1,802 crore has been spent in the financial year 2024-25. We anticipate reaching Rs 2,400 crore by March 31, 2025," he said "Currently, we are accelerating the approved projects under MUTP-3 and MUTP-3A. Under MUTP-3, key projects include the new Panvel-Karjat suburban corridor under Central Railway, quadrupling of the Virar-Dahanu Road section under Western Railway, and mid-section trespass control projects for both Central and Western Railways. MUTP-3A projects such as the 5th and 6th lines between Borivali and Virar, and the 3rd and 4th lines between Kalyan and Badlapur, are progressing as per the target timeline. These projects encompass several stations, rail flyovers, small and large bridges, RUBs, ROBs, and tunnels. Considering the growing urbanization in the MMR region, we have prioritized the expansion and upgradation of the suburban rail network," he explained. "In 2024, under the Airoli-Kalwa project, the new station “Digha Gaon” was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on January 12, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities," he added Trespassing has been a major concern, and out of 34 identified locations, work at 30 locations has been completed across various sites of Central and Western Railways. "Under station improvement works, MRVC is working on 17 suburban stations. The work at Khar station is nearly complete, and Phase-I work at Ghatkopar is also nearing completion. We expect to complete projects at Mira Road, Kandivali, Kasara, and Neral in 2025. Work on the remaining 12 stations is progressing, and I am confident that with your dedication, we will complete them within the stipulated timeframe. The station improvement initiatives by MRVC will ensure a comfortable, safe, and seamless travel experience for commuters with modern amenities and better crowd management," he said. In the Panvel-Karjat new corridor project, 68 per cent of the work has been completed by December. Landfilling, cutting, blanketing, etc., are progressing well, and during 2024, 11 minor bridges, 3 major bridges, 1 ROB, and 9 RUBs were completed. The excavation of the longest 2.6 km Waverly tunnel was completed as per the target. In the Virar-Dahanu Road project, 31% of the work has been completed so far. In 2024, 9 minor bridges and 4 major bridges were completed. Significant progress is being made in land acquisition and related activities. The Borivali-Virar 5th and 6th line project and the Kalyan-Badlapur 3rd and 4th line projects are also progressing well. "We are receiving adequate funding from the central and state governments, which is a great boost to expedite project execution. All these successes have been possible due to the teamwork and dedication of MRVC officers and staff across all departments," he added. "MRVC places great importance on the health and well-being of its employees. Regular health camps have been conducted to reduce workplace stress, with 140 employees participating this year. Medical camps were organized at the corporate office and various work sites. Programs such as International Yoga Day, Cancer Day, TB Day, Women’s Day, and Swachhata Pakhwada were conducted," Gupta said. Excerpts of speech on other subjects International Women’s Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm. A group discussion on the theme “Empowered Women for a Strong Society” was organized, focusing on the importance of observing Women’s Day and sharing experiences related to women’s empowerment. A separate women’s rest area has been established at the corporate office for the well-being of female employees. Workshops on “Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace” were conducted to sensitize employees and ensure a safe and respectful working environment for women. Under digitisation and administrative reforms, with the successful implementation of the Project Management Information System (PMIS) and Integrated Financial Accounting System (IFAS), we are progressing towards a paperless office through e-office, enhancing efficiency and transparency. Several initiatives have been undertaken to promote the use of the official language, Hindi, at MRVC. Various programs were conducted, along with the celebration of Hindi Week and the regular publication of the “Vikas-Path” magazine. We take pride in being awarded the “Rajbhasha Shield” by the Town Official Language Implementation Committee. In the financial year 2023-24, MRVC achieved an “Excellent” rating in the PSU rankings with a score of 98/100, a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication. I congratulate Team MRVC on this remarkable achievement and am confident that we will maintain this ranking with our outstanding performance this year as well. The Road Ahead Our commitment is to maintain our energy and dedication to complete all projects on time, providing Mumbaikars with a comfortable and seamless rail travel experience. Time waits for no one, and we must keep moving forward. I believe that the MRVC team, with its determination and hard work, will turn future challenges into opportunities and achieve new heights of success.
27 January,2025 12:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that with 94 per cent of the work completed, the Mumbai Coastal Road will be fully open to Mumbaikars upon the completion of the Prabhadevi connector in February, reported the PTI. CM Fadnavis inaugurated the northbound bridge connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, describing it as a milestone that will 'herald a new era of connectivity' for the city. "The coastal road milestone is a new era of connectivity for Mumbai. It will significantly reduce travel time for Mumbaikars and provide much-needed relief from pollution," he said, according to the PTI. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and ministers Ashish Shelar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha were present on the occasion. "I appreciate all the officers, engineers, employees of the BMC, contractors, and construction workers involved in successfully completing the coastal road project. Your dedication and hard work have made this possible," he said, as per the PTI. Besides the bridge, the chief minister also inaugurated the intersections from Marine Drive to Prabhadevi and from Bindumadhav Thackeray Chowk to the sea bridge and the intercity route towards Bandra. The coastal road will be open for vehicular movement daily from 7 am to midnight, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had said in a release on Friday, adding the northbound bridge will be opened for the public from January 27. In the absence of the northbound bridge, both north as well as south bound traffic was directed to the southbound bridge, which was opened for the public a few months back, it said, the PTI reported. The northbound bridge is 827 metres long, with 699 metres over the sea and a 128-metre access road. The bridge includes a 143-metre long, 27-metre wide and 31-metre high 'Bo Arch String Girder' weighing approximately 2,400 metric tons, the release said. The ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project is being developed in phases to provide faster access from south Mumbai to the northern suburbs, stretching from Nariman Point to Dahisar. Almost 94 per cent of the construction of the first phase of the coastal road, covering a 10.58-km-stretch from Shamal Das Gandhi Marg in south Mumbai to Worli-Bandra Sea Link, has been completed, the release said, the news agency reported. More than 50 lakh vehicles have used the coastal road route from March 12 to December 31, 2024, with the daily average being 18,000-20,000 vehicles, it added. (with PTI inputs)
26 January,2025 11:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA toddler survived a fall from the 13th floor flat of a high-rise in Dombivali area of Thane district in Maharashtra after a man's quick thinkking saved her, the officials said, reported the PTI. A CCTV video of the two-year-old child being saved by due to the alertness of the man has gone viral on social media and drawing widespread praise from netizens who hailed him as a real life hero. According to the PTI, the incident took place last week in Devichapada locality in Dombivali and the child sustained only minor injuries, the officials said. In the video, a man identified as Bhavesh Mhatre can be seen running to catch the falling child, and though he failed to grasp her completely, his action broke the fall and lessened the impact of the child hitting the ground. Eyewitnesses said the child fell while playing in the balcony of her 13th floor flat, as per the PTI. "She slipped, was hanging precariously for sometime at the edge of the balcony and then fell," an eyewitness said. Bhavesh Mhatre said that he was passing by the building and didn't think twice before moving forward since he was determined to save the child's life, the news agency reported. "There is no religion greater than courage and humanity," he told reporters. A civic official hailed Mhatre's act and said there were plans to felicitate him. Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde helps man injured in road accident Meanwhile, in an another incident, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday stopped his convoy to help a motorcyclist who was injured in a road accident. The man was sitting in an injured condition by the side of Eastern Express Highway in Ghatkopar area of eastern Mumbai when deputy CM Shinde spotted him, a release from Eknath Shinde's office said, according to the PTI. In a video shared by Shinde's team, man can being seen getting help from Shinde. Shinde who was returning from Saket in Maharashtra's Thane district after a Republic Day function, stopped his vehicle and instructed personnel to rush the man with a head wound to nearby Rajawadi hospital. (with PTI inputs)
26 January,2025 10:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA fire broke out in a 15-storey building in Kurla east area of suburban Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Sunday. The blaze broke out at the Shivaji Nagar SRA building, located near Swastik Park on S.G. Barve Marg in Kurla east at around 7:18 pm on Sunday, the civic body said. The fire was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade which declared it a Level-1 (minor) fire incident. The building is a ground+15 structure and the fire was confined to electric wiring in the electric duct from ground floor to 15th floor of building. As per complainant no one trapped, building evacuated. The officials said that after receiving the information regarding the blaze, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, along with the police, local BMC ward staff and other civic officials rushed to the spot to control the situation. The firefighters were working on site to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. No injuries have been reported so far in the incident, the officials said. Further details will be updated.
26 January,2025 08:23 PM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveVillagers in Maharashtra's Thane and Palghar districts staged a protest alleging irregularities and delays in projects under Jal Jeevan Mission, prompting Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to announce a review meeting on January 31, PTI reported. As per PTI, the protesters gathered in front of district and taluka offices on Saturday, demanding answers for delays in fulfilling the scheme's objectives. Launched in 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission, promised clean tap water to every household with a target of 55 litres per person per day. Following the protests, Deputy CM and District Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde announced a gathering of all stakeholders, including officials from departments related to the Jal Jeevan Mission and labour representatives to be held on January 31, ANI reported. Speaking to ANI reporters, Shinde said, "A meeting has been scheduled for January 31 to review the progress and resolve issues in the Jal Jeevan Mission. We are committed to ensuring clean water reaches every household." Drinking water supply secured as Mumbai lakes hit 98.71 per cent capacity Water levels in Mumbai's seven reservoirs, which provide the city with drinking water, have reached 98.71 per cent, as reported by the BMC. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data, the collective water stock in Mumbai lakes is currently at 14,28,697 million litres, which is 98.71 percent of capacity. Mumbai draws water from Tulsi, Tansa, Vihar, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna. As per the data shared by the civic body on the Mumbai lakes, the water level in Tansa is at 98.29 per cent. At Modak-Sagar, 100 percent of water stock is available. In Middle Vaitarna 99.20 per cent, Upper Vaitarna 98.51 per cent, Bhatsa 98.43 per cent, Vihar 100 per cent and Tulsi 100 percent of useful water level is available. During heavy rains, one more lake supplying water to Mumbai, Middle Vaitarna Lake, started overflowing on July 4. Lakes Vihar and Modak Sagar began to flood on July 25 due to persistently high rains. Around 4 pm on July 24, Tansa Lake started to overflow, increasing the amount of water stored in all seven reservoirs by 17 days in a single day. Approximately 400 million gallons of water are supplied to Mumbai by Tansa Lake, which is situated in the Shahpur region of Thane. On July 26, 2024, it overflowed. (With Agency inputs)
26 January,2025 07:35 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentOver 50 individuals were hospitalised in Nanded district of Maharashtra on Sunday for food poisoning after having 'bhagar' (barnyard millet) and peanut paste during a pilgrimage, an official said, PTI reported. The incident took place in Mahur, about 640 kilometres from Mumbai, the official added. "After having bhagar and peanut paste on Ekadashi on Saturday night, some 50 devotees who had come for Thakur Buwa pilgrimage here started vomiting this morning. They were rushed to Mahur rural hospital. The condition of four was critical. However, doctors have now said all the patients are fine and would be discharged soon," the official informed, PTI cited. Thane civic school's 41 students hospitalised with food poisoning symptoms Last October, at least 41 students of a civic school in Thane district of Maharashtra were hospitalised after they showed symptoms of food poisoning, an official said, reported the PTI. The children from the civic-run school in the Diva-Agasan area complained of upset stomachs after having the mid-day meal on the premises. All are stable, said the senior official from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), according to the PTI. A team of doctors from the corporation-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj hospital in Kalwa was sent to the school to provide preliminary treatment. Later, 41 students were taken to the Kalwa hospital for observation, said Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health) GG Godepure. TMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao said the trouble began after students from Standards V to VII consumed the 'khichdi' (a rice and lentil dish) served to them as part of the mid-day meal, as per the PTI. "All the students are stable now," he said, as per the PTI. The TMC chief said that officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected the kitchen and other cooking facilities and collected samples of the khichdi. Action will be taken after an inquiry, said Saurabh Rao, the news agency reported. In another similar incident, earlier this month, over thirty-eight students from a school in Thane's Kharegaon-Kalwa were hospitalised following a case of suspected food poisoning on October 1. The students fell ill after consuming 'khichdi' and 'usal' served during lunch at the school as part of their mid-day meal. The incident had occurred at a private school in Kalwa area of Thane district in Maharashtra, the officials said earlier. As their condition worsened, the students complained of dizziness, nausea, headaches, and severe abdominal pain. They were immediately admitted to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa, where they were reported to be in stable condition, the officials had said. A medical officer at the hospital added that while the children are out of danger, food samples have been collected for testing to determine the exact cause. Local civic authorities and the police have launched an investigation into the matter. (With inputs from PTI)
26 January,2025 06:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA pair of captive Asiatic lions have been brought to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai from Sakkarbaug Zoo in Gujarat to join the park's captive lion safari. The lions arrived at SGNP on Republic Day, marking an exciting new addition to the park’s wildlife offerings. Dr. V Clement Ben, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) for the Western Wildlife Region, confirmed the arrival of the lions and shared details about the exchange. "We have brought a pair of captive Asiatic lions from Sakkarbaug Zoo to Sanjay Gandhi National Park for its captive lion safari," said Dr. Ben. He added, "In exchange, a pair of captive Royal Bengal tigers from SGNP have been sent to Gujarat." The lions' health and pedigree have been carefully assessed by SGNP's veterinary team, who found them to be in excellent condition. "Our veterinary team has examined the pedigree and general health of the pair and found them to be sound," Dr. Ben added. The exchange between the Sakkarbaug Zoo to Sanjay Gandhi National Park is part of a broader conservation effort. The Asiatic lions, once found throughout much of the Middle East and India, are now primarily located in the Gir Forest of Gujarat, where conservation efforts have helped stabilise their population. A pair of captive Asiatic lions from Gujarat's Sakkarbaug Zoo were brought to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) for its captive lion safari. The lions arrived on Republic Day as part of an exchange program, with SGNP sending a pair of Royal Bengal Tigers to Gujarat in return.… pic.twitter.com/8ZRkhSrGmE — Mid Day (@mid_day) January 26, 2025 Sanjay Gandhi National Park is known for its rich biodiversity and scenic beauty. It has been a significant hub for wildlife conservation in the region. The captive lion safari was started in SGNP in 1975–76 and it has been an important tourist attraction, helping to generate revenue for the park. The lions in the safari were born to Asian and African lions rescued from circuses. The central zoo authority has directed not to let mating happen among the Asian and African lions in captivity, because of which the population of the captive lions in the SGNP did not increase. The captive tiger and lion safari at SGNP, one of the most-visited national parks in the country, was started in the 1990s and since then has been an important tourist attraction. During the safari, visitors are ferried in mini buses into an area that is fenced from all sides.
26 January,2025 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe new northbound bridge connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road Project to the Worli-Bandra Sea Link was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister Ashish Shelar, and Mangalprabhat Lodha. The bridge developed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will open for motorists on Monday. According to the BMC’s estimates, motorists can now complete a single journey from Bandra to Nariman Point in 18 to 19 minutes. The road will save 75 per cent in travel time and 34 per cent in fuel consumption. The road is part of the western coastal corridor of Mumbai. With the Nariman Point to Bandra stretch completed, work is in progress for the Bandra to Versova sea link. Further, BMC has undertaken the Versova to Dahisar and Dahisar to Mira-Bhayandar connector projects. Additionally, there is a connector between the Coastal Road and Atal Setu from Worli to Sewri. Maharashtra ministers also took a journey in a vintage car on Sunday. The newly constructed bridge spans 827 meters, including a 699-meter section over the sea and a 128-meter approach road. It features a 2,400-metric-ton bow arch string girder connecting the Coastal Road to the Sea Link. Traffic from Marine Drive to the Sea Link will use the northbound bridge from 7 a.m. to midnight, while the southbound bridge will handle Bandra-to-Marine Drive traffic as usual. The Mumbai Coastal Road Project includes elevated roads, bridges, embankments, and twin 2-km-long underground tunnels with six to eight lanes. Three key interchanges at Worli, Prabhadevi, and Lower Parel will also open to the public. From March 2024 to December 2024, approximately five million vehicles have used the Coastal Road. On an average, 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles are using the road daily, the officials said. Worth Rs 14,000 crores, the project includes a green belt to be developed under Corporate Social Responsibility by a private player, with no commercial use permitted. Earlier milestones include the inauguration of the southbound lane of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project on March 11, 2024, and the northbound lane on June 10, 2024. Temporary routes were opened to manage traffic during construction.
26 January,2025 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe police on Sunday said that a 61-year-old woman riding a pillion on a scooter died after falling from the vehicle when it hit a pothole in Maharashtra's Thane district, reported news agency PTI. The incident took place in Dombivli township on Friday night when Bharti Vijaykumar Bhoi, a resident of Lodha Palava in the area, was heading to a market with her son on the two-wheeler, they said, reported PTI. At around 9.40 pm, the scooter hit a pothole following which the woman lost balance and fell down. She suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her dead, an official from Manpada police station in Dombivli said, reported PTI. The body was later sent to a government hospital for postmortem and a case of accidental death was registered, he said. One killed after tree falls on autorickshaw in Thane district A 60-year-old autorickshaw driver was killed after a tree fell on his vehicle in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday. The victim, Ramdin Ramratn Lodhi, sustained severe injuries when a tree fell on the three-wheeler in Dombivili town on Thursday afternoon. He died during treatment at a hospital, an official said. He said a case of accidental death has been registered, and the incident is being probed. Girl killed as school bus overturns A student died and another was injured when their school bus overturned in Umarkhed taluka in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra on Saturday, police said. The bus was carrying 20 to 25 students from Divti Pimpri village to their school in Dahagaon when the incident occurred in the morning, an official said. The deceased girl was a class 9 student. In the wake of the accident, Yavatmal guardian minister Sanjay Rathod directed officials to inspect school buses for compliance with rules. (With inputs from PTI)
26 January,2025 02:36 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentIn a landmark announcement on Republic Day, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde revealed ambitious plans to transform Mumbai’s iconic Mahalaxmi Race Course into a world-class central park spanning 300 acres. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that this initiative aims to provide Mumbaikars with a much-needed green space—an "oxygen park"—to address the city's growing pollution challenges and offer enhanced recreational facilities. Speaking about the project, Shinde stated, “A 70-hectare park will be built here. The file for 120 acres of land at the Mahalaxmi Race Course has been opened, and the agreement has been finalised. This park will be a big gift for the people of Mumbai on Republic Day.” Shinde emphasised the importance of the project in improving the city’s environmental conditions. “This will reduce Mumbai's pollution and provide facilities for the people. Such a central park is the need of the hour for a city like Mumbai, where open spaces are scarce,” he remarked. In addition to the park announcement, Shinde shared his optimism about the coastal road’s potential to revolutionize urban mobility in Mumbai. He praised the international-standard technical work involved in the project, remarking, “The Coastal Road is being dedicated to the public on Republic Day, marking a significant milestone for Mumbai. This road will bring about a big change in the lives of Mumbaikars.” On Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the northbound bridge connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and ministers Ashish Shelar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha were present at the event. Along with the bridge, the Chief Minister inaugurated three interchanges, providing connectivity for vehicles travelling to areas such as Worli, Prabhadevi, Lower Parel, and Lotus Junction. According to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release on Friday, the coastal road will be open for vehicular movement daily from 7 a.m. to midnight, with the northbound bridge accessible to the public from January 27. Previously, both northbound and southbound traffic had been directed onto the southbound bridge, which opened to the public a few months earlier. The newly inaugurated northbound bridge spans 827 meters, including 699 meters over the sea and a 128-meter access road. The bridge features a 143-meter-long, 27-meter-wide, and 31-meter-high 'Bo Arch String Girder,' weighing approximately 2,400 metric tons. The ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project is being developed in phases to provide faster access from south Mumbai to the northern suburbs, stretching from Nariman Point to Dahisar. Nearly 94% of construction on the first phase, covering a 10.58-km stretch from Shamal Das Gandhi Marg to the Worli-Bandra Sea Link, has been completed. From March 12 to December 31, 2024, more than 50 lakh vehicles used the coastal road route, with a daily average of 18,000-20,000 vehicles, according to the BMC.
26 January,2025 02:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the Mumbai Coastal Road will save time, fuel, and reduce pollution. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday inaugurated the northbound bridge connecting the Mumbai Coastal Road with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and ministers Ashish Shelar and Mangal Prabhat Lodha were present on the occasion. Along with the bridge, the chief minister inaugurated three interchanges, which will provide connectivity for vehicles moving to areas like Worli, Prabhadevi, Lower Parel, and Lotus Junction. Speaking at the inauguration, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis emphasised the transformative impact of the coastal road, stating, “This road will save a lot of time and fuel for Mumbaikars and play an important role in reducing pollution. Ninety-four per cent of the work is now complete, and the Coastal Road has been inaugurated today. The remaining sections will be opened on Republic Day and January 27.” Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde shared his optimism about the coastal road’s potential to revolutionize urban mobility in Mumbai. He praised the international-standard technical work involved in the project, remarking, “The Coastal Road is being dedicated to the public on Republic Day, marking a significant milestone for Mumbai. This road will bring about a big change in the lives of Mumbaikars.” In a bid to align the project with sustainable development goals, the road's bifurcation is undergoing extensive beautification, led by Tata Sons Limited and Affiliates. As part of the initiative, trees were planted by Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Shinde during the inauguration ceremony. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his belief that dedicating the Coastal Road to the public on Republic Day marks a significant milestone. He emphasised that this road will bring transformative changes to the lives of Mumbaikars. He also commended the coastal road project for its unique design and construction, which adheres to international standards of technical excellence. The coastal road will be open for vehicular movement daily from 7 am to midnight, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a release on Friday said, adding the northbound bridge will be opened for the public from January 27. In the absence of the northbound bridge, both north as well as southbound traffic was directed to the southbound bridge, which was opened for the public a few months back, it said. The northbound bridge is 827 metres long, with 699 metres over the sea and a 128-metre access road. The bridge includes a 143-metre long, 27-metre wide and 31-metre high 'Bo Arch String Girder' weighing approximately 2,400 metric tons, the release said. The ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road Project is being developed in phases to provide faster access from south Mumbai to the northern suburbs, stretching from Nariman Point to Dahisar. Almost 94 per cent of construction of the first phase of the coastal road, covering a 10.58-km-stretch from Shamal Das Gandhi Marg to Worli-Bandra Sea Link, has been completed, the release said. More than 50 lakh vehicles have used the coastal road route from March 12 to December 31, 2024, with the daily average being 18,000-20,000 vehicles, it added.
26 January,2025 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
