Mumbai BMC Seeks PWD Clearance For Nepean Sea Rd Access
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is pressing for a crucial clearance from the Public Works Department (PWD) to build a long-awaited access link between Nepean Sea Road and the Mumbai Coastal Road project, a gap that continues to frustrate residents and planners alike. The delay underscores ongoing coordination challenges in integrating major city arteries — a core issue in balancing road-based mobility, public space access and sustainable urban growth.
The proposed connection — envisioned more than a decade ago — aims to provide a dedicated exit and entry for Nepean Sea Road residents and users of the Coastal Road’s public promenade and green space. Initial designs had included a direct linkage near Priyadarshini Park, but over years of environmental, technical and legal review, that option gave way to a configuration focusing on interchanges at Amarsons Garden, Haji Ali and Worli. The shift was justified on grounds of land availability and to reduce acquisition of private land, as backed by a 2019 High Court directive, but it left pockets like Nepean Sea Road without direct access.The latest push for an access road surfaced after a resident of Breach Candy petitioned the Prime Minister’s Office on persistent congestion and lack of safe exits. In response, the BMC wrote to the PWD in late 2025 requesting the transfer of a 10.5-metre strip of land from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) so that construction can begin near Embassy Apartments. Seven months on, the civic authority says it has not received the necessary clearance or land allocation.
Urban mobility experts note that despite significant investment in mega-infrastructure like the Coastal Road — designed to ease north-south traffic flow and provide a continuous seafront promenade — seamless connectivity hinges on smaller yet strategic links such as this access point. Without it, local traffic pressures may persist on neighbourhood arteries, undermining some public benefits of flagship projects. Researchers argue that infrastructure planning must integrate local-level accessibility alongside high-capacity corridors to distribute mobility gains equitably across communities.Environmental stakeholders highlight another dimension: the Coastal Road project’s extensive land reclamation and green space promises have already faced scrutiny. While the promenade and recreational corridors open up new public space, critics argue that equitable access requires not just high-level infrastructure but also thoughtful last-mile connections that serve residents, pedestrians and non-motorised users alike.
City planners caution that delays in inter-departmental approvals risk fragmenting Mumbai’s broader strategy for resilient, people-centred transport systems. The Coastal Road — part of a historic reclamation effort combining expressway capacity with parks and walking trails — represents a major leap in urban mobility, but its success will be measured by how well it integrates with local streets and communities.
For now, the absence of a Nepean Sea Road access link remains a sticking point. Resolution will require not just administrative clearance but a coherent vision that bridges large-scale infrastructure ambitions with everyday urban experience — a balance essential for sustainable, inclusive city development.
