This is an archive article published on May 1, 2024
From today on trial basis: Mumbai Coastal Road Project’s south-bound arm to be open 7 am to 11 pm
While the entry of vehicles to the coastal road from the Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk (Khan Abdul Gaffar road) will be allowed between 8 am till 5 pm, the remaining two interchanges — Amarsons and Haji Ali — will be extended from 7 am till 11 pm.
Written by Nayonika Bose
Mumbai | Updated: May 3, 2024 01:32 AM IST
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The road was earlier open from 8am to 8pm. (Express Photo)
From Wednesday, the Mumbai Coastal Road Project‘s (MCRP) south bound arm is slated to become operational for vehicular traffic for 16 hours a day — from 7 am to 11 pm — throughout the week. As per BMC officials, the other arm will be opened by the month end, with the civic body aiming at launching the integration of the two tunnels soon after.
While the entry of vehicles to the coastal road from the Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk (Khan Abdul Gaffar road) will be allowed between 8 am till 5 pm, the remaining two interchanges — Amarsons and Haji Ali — will be extended from 7 am till 11 pm.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official from the traffic department said, “We are starting this from Wednesday on a trial basis. If the trial succeeds we will implement the new timing on a regular basis.”
Currently, the coastal swath is operational only between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays for south-bound traffic. Now, in a bid to ascertain the efficiency of the tunnel’s systems, the civic body is set to increase the operational hours of the coastal road to 16 hours for all seven days of the week.
A senior BMC official told The Indian Express, “We will be operating the south-bound arm for 16 hours, from 7 am to 11 pm. This increase in time was proposed to ascertain the efficiency of various systems within tunnels such as the ventilation system, CCTVs etc. over a longer duration.”
Following this, BMC will also open the other arm by May end for 16 hours. “A few days after the other side also becomes operational, we will also work on integration of the two tunnels,” said the civic official.
“Integration includes starting the ventilation systems of both tunnels,” he said, “and checking whether they are working in synchronisation. The integration of the various systems will be observed and checked in this period.” The integration will also involve opening cross passages between the two tunnels, which allow pedestrians or motorists to cross one tunnel and enter the other in case of emergencies like vehicular breakdown, a fire, medical issues or a natural calamity.
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While there are total of 10 cross passages on the route, the tunnel itself has six cross passages inside, at an interval of 300 metres each. Of these, two cross passages are for vehicles and four are reserved for pedestrian crossing.
Upon integration of the two arms, a senior BMC official said that the entire stretch of phase 1 will be opened to round-the-clock traffic from the end of June.
Last week, over a time span of 1 hour and 25 minutes, BMC launched girders for the bowstring arch bridge that will connect the coastal road with BWSL. Completion of these girders will mark the completion of first phase of the Rs 13,000–crore project.
Nayonika Bose is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.
Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T)
Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area.
Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:
Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft).
Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout).
Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks.
Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration.
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