The Coastal Road partially opened on March 12. Since then, it has seen over 450,000 vehicles in a nine-minute signal-free drive from Worli to Marine Drive, averaging about 19,500 vehicles per day. The highest traffic volume was recorded on March 15 with 22,880 vehicles, and the highest hourly traffic count was achieved on March 21 between 10-11 am with 2,943 vehicles.
The BMC has stated that the gap between the Worli end of the road’s southbound arm and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is expected to be filled by Wednesday. They have brought a 136-meter-long bowstring girder on-site and are preparing it for launch. The road will be fully open by June.
Although the Coastal Road remains closed on Saturdays and Sundays, traffic police kept it open on April 13 due to Eid and IPL. On most days, traffic peaks from 10 am to noon and 6 pm to 7 pm, according to a BMC official.
The road is open in one direction from Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk in Worli to the southbound tunnel’s exit ahead of Princess Street Flyover on Marine Drive. It operates Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm. The road has three entries – Bindu Madhav Thackeray Junction (Worli), Rajani Patel Junction (also known as Lotus Junction, Mahalakshmi), and Amarsons Garden (Breach Candy) – and two exits – Amarsons Garden and Marine Drive (the tunnel exit). Entry from the Worli point is allowed only until 5 pm.
Currently, work on the northbound carriageway is underway. This is why the road has restricted timings, says a civic official. Marine Drive resident Mahendra Hemdev said, “Coastal Road has been a game-changer as far as seamless traffic movement is concerned. We look forward to the opening of the northbound arm.”
Peddar Road resident Dr Bomi Pardiwala said traffic on it has reduced. “The volume of honking serves as a clear indicator for us. During weekdays, we have observed a decrease in honking. But on Saturdays, when Coastal Road is closed, honking increases as traffic is back in our area,” he explained. “Nevertheless, there are persistent bottlenecks that demand attention, such as the U-turn required to access Coastal Road from the Breach Candy interchange.”
A BMC official said the installation of a signal is in progress at Breach Candy junction. This would ensure that access can be closer to the interchange rather than through a U-turn.
