As work on the second tunnel is still in its early stages, the BMC will be able to inaugurate only one side of the Coastal Road route through Marine Lines and Worli in December. Furthermore, the connectors between the Coastal Road and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, as well as a few arms for interchanges at Worli and Haji Ali, would take longer to build. The full project, including a promenade and parking garage, is projected to be completed by June 2025.
Work on the Coastal Road began in December 2018, with the 10.58-kilometre segment between Marine Lines and Worli anticipated to be completed by November 2023. The civic organisation even worked under the COVID-induced curfew. However, many obstacles delayed the project, including damage to the tunnel boring equipment, the Supreme Court case, and the choice to have a wider span between the pillars of the Worli bridge.
“We are looking at options to optimise the use of the completed structures of the road. One tunnel will be ready and so the south-to-north (Marine Lines to Worli up to JK Kapur Chowk) traffic may start in December 2023. We are also looking to open up a few other stretches on north-to-south roads, but this decision will be taken later,” said a BMC official.
According to Coastal Road chief engineer MM Swami, the first tunnel is nearly finished, and work on safety equipment and electricity is ongoing. However, he said that they cannot use a single tunnel for two-way traffic because it would defeat the purpose of the Coastal Road, adding that the Bandra-Worli Sea Link link and other works along the route will be done by May 2024.
The Coastal Road project also includes the construction of parallel tunnels 2.070 kilometres long between Priyadarshini Park and Girgaon Chowpatty. While the first tunnel was finished on January 10, 2022, the second began in April 2022 and was finished last month. From the Princess Street flyover to the southern terminus of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the Coastal Road is being built. The estimated overall cost, including taxes and penalties, was Rs 12,000 crore. However, the consultant fee has risen, and the project now costs Rs 12,721 crore.
The current Coastal Road Project in Mumbai is set for a substantial influence on interactions between Mumbai and Alibaug. The coastal freeway would not only save travel time, but will also provide a scenic and comfortable commute for Alibaug locals, tourists, and investors.