Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde inspected the Coastal Road Project at Priyadarshini Park and said the project will commence shortly.

After the inspection, CM Shinde said, “The first phase is to be completed by March. 11 km of the tunnel will be constructed in the first phase.” This will benefit commuters, especially during peak morning and evening hours when there’s heavy traffic. This tunnel is being made using advanced techniques. If a fire breaks out or there is smoke, the commuters won’t feel suffocated. Arrangements to throw out smoke have been made. “This is the largest tunnel in the country,” Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde added further.

On being asked if commuters need to pay tax for the new tunnel, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, “Commuters will not have to pay toll tax to use this road.” Shinde predicted that Phase 2 would be completed by May. “Further construction will continue to happen after that. The traffic will automatically smoothen after the completion of this tunnel,” concluded Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

Earlier, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in its budget 2022-23 allocated ₹3200 crore for its ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road project The BMC had given the highest priority to the Mumbai Coastal Road project, even more than the health budget amid the ongoing pandemic.

As per BMC data, the coastal road project got the highest share of budget allocation by BMC for the year 2022-23 at 17 percent followed by health at 15 percent, traffic, and road at 12 percent and bridges at 9 percent, stormwater drains at 8 percent and Goregaon-Mulund Link road at 7 percent share of the total budget.