On Monday, Mumbai's long-awaited coastal road project arrived at a juncture with the inauguration of the southbound carriageway between Worli and Marine Drive. This inauguration not only promises to drastically reduce travel time but also aims to save approximately $100 million annually in carbon emissions through fuel savings, according to Mumbai civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal.
The inauguration ceremony for the first phase of the project was led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Commuters will be able to experience the reduced travel time firsthand starting at 8 am on Tuesday.
Chahal emphasized the substantial environmental benefits of the project, stating, "The travelling time will be reduced from 40 minutes to 9 minutes now, and it would save nearly $100 million annually in carbon emissions through fuel savings." This reduction in carbon emissions is a significant step towards sustainability in transportation infrastructure.
The coastal road, spanning 10.58 kilometers in length with 16.5 kilometers of interchanges, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 14,000 crore. It features four lanes on each side along with two 12.19-meter diameter tunnels, measuring 2.07 kilometers in length. These tunnels, constructed using tunnel boring machines, represent the largest tunnels by diameter built in the country.
Chahal stated, "It is for the first time in India that a four-lane coastal road has been built 100 percent on land reclaimed from the sea and stands on monopiles only."
Despite challenges, including legal hurdles and bureaucratic processes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has managed to execute the project efficiently. Chahal commended the record time in which the construction was completed, with the actual work commencing in June 2020 after the vacation of a stay order by the High Court, despite the work order being issued in October 2018. The northbound carriageway of the coastal road is expected to be ready by May 2024.
The coastal road project includes plans for 175 acres of coastal gardens, which will be developed over time, enhancing the city's green spaces.
However, the project hasn't been without its controversies. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticized the delay in obtaining permissions for the coastal road, attributing it to the Central government's inaction over a span of three years. Thackeray accused the state government of further postponing the partial inauguration, citing changing dates since February 19.
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