September 12, 2024: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated the bow-string arch bridge of the Coastal Road project in Mumbai on September 12, 2024. The bow-string arch bridge is part of the Coastal Road that connects Marine Drive to Bandra and aims to drastically reduce travel time for Mumbaikars by offering unparalleled connectivity through multiple roadways and bridges running from North to South. With this, Mumbai’s travel experience is about to get a major upgrade with the inauguration of the northbound Coastal Road connector to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This 800 m stretch will significantly shorten commute times, offering a faster and smoother journey.
This development promises to slash travel time from South Mumbai to the international airport’s Terminal-2 from a gruelling 90-120 minutes to a mere 30 minutes. While the Coastal Road was operational up to Worli, this new section allows access to the Sea Link, making the drive smoother and faster.
Mr Shinde praised the coastal route as a game-changer and announced that it would soon be expanded to Versova, Bhayander, Virar, and Palghar. He claimed that once the extension is completed, the journey from Marine Drive to Versova would take only 40-50 minutes, compared to the current 2-3 hours. Esteemed delegates such as Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Guardian Ministers Deepak Kesarkar, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Assistant Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Chahal, and Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, were also present during the inauguration.
This is the fourth phase of the road’s phased opening. Previously, the southbound arm from Worli to Marine Drive was opened on March 11. The northbound carriageway was partially opened on June 10 from Marine Drive to Haji Ali, and the stretch from Haji Ali to Worli was completed on July 11. Motorists can now travel from Marine Drive to Worli in under 15 minutes.
The inauguration of the Mumbai Coastal Road Bridge signifies a major advancement in the city’s infrastructure. With future expansions planned to Versova, Bhayander, Virar, and Palghar, the Coastal Road is poised to drastically improve connectivity and quality of life. The completion of the southbound arm by December and the connection to Vadhvan Port further demonstrate the project’s broad-reaching impact, positioning it as a transformative development for Mumbai’s transportation network.
The bridge became operational on September 13 and is said to have cut down travel time to ten minutes, allowing drivers to save time and fuel. It will be accessible to northbound traffic on weekdays from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. Mumbaikars will be able to travel quickly, comfortably, and without traffic. As a result, they will have more time for their jobs and homes.
The southbound arm of the coastal road-sea connection bridge is set to open in December. The two connecting arms of the arch bridge and 92% of the overall construction work for the coastal road have been completed, with the remaining work expected to be completed soon.