"Mumbai's Coastal Road and Sea Link to Connect This Week"

Since its partial opening on March 12, Mumbai's Coastal Road has witnessed a remarkable surge in traffic, with nearly 4.5 lakh vehicles enjoying the nine-minute signal-free drive from Worli to Marine Drive. This translates to an average of about 19,500 vehicles daily, peaking at 22,880 vehicles on March 15, and reaching its highest hourly traffic count of 2,943 on March 21.

The imminent connection between the Worli-end of the road's southbound arm and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is expected to be bridged by Wednesday, with the arrival and preparation of a 136-metre-long bow string girder. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has projected that the road will be fully opened by June.

While the Coastal Road remains closed on Saturdays and Sundays, exceptions were made on April 13 for Eid and IPL matches, underscoring its significance as a vital transport artery. Traffic typically peaks from 10 am to noon and 6 pm to 7 pm on weekdays.

Operating from Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk in Worli to the southbound tunnel's exit near Princess Street Flyover on Marine Drive, the road currently functions from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm, with three entries and two exits strategically placed along its route.

Residents have hailed the Coastal Road as a game-changer for seamless traffic movement, with anticipation mounting for the opening of the northbound arm. However, concerns persist regarding persistent bottlenecks, such as the U-turn needed to access the road from the Breach Candy interchange.

Addressing these concerns, BMC officials have initiated the installation of a signal at the Breach Candy junction, aimed at streamlining access and reducing congestion.

ET