BMC to install network of CCTV cameras on Mumbai Coastal Road

“Since the tunnels go underground and there’s no overhead opening, we had to install cameras there on priority so that we can monitor if there has been any accident or mishap underground. Meanwhile, on the main road, no cameras have been installed yet,” said the official.

The official said that one control room is currently operational which is monitoring minute-to-minute movement inside the tunnel. The officials also maintained that ambulances and fire engines have also been kept on standby.

At present, only the 9.5 km south-bound stretch of the 10.58 km long high-speed corridor is open to the public, which cuts the distance between Worli and Marine drive to less than ten minutes which otherwise takes at least 50 minutes during peak hours. The Rs 13,983 crore project is made operational only between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays.

Meanwhile, on the second day, 19,803 vehicles took the Mumbai Coastal Road which was 17.5% more than the first day. Also, the peak traffic of 2,645 cars was recorded on Wednesday between 10 am and 11 am.

Civic officials maintained that by the end of this week, the vehicular count could be doubled and by the end of this month, the figures would rise further exponentially.

“At present, the road is only being kept open for 12 hours. If the timing was extended, then the vehicle count could have touched at least 50,000 each on both the days,” said an official.

“Motorists start queuing the entry points from 7.30 am onwards and often around 8 pm there is a huge influx of vehicles on the road,” the official said.