BMC Urges Traffic Police to Step Up Vigilance on Mumbai Coastal Road
In a bid to curb the rising incidents of speeding on the Mumbai Coastal Road, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has requested the Mumbai Traffic Police to increase vigilance, particularly at the tunnel exits. The civic body has also fast-tracked the installation of advanced surveillance cameras to monitor vehicle speeds, with plans to have these cameras fully operational within the next two months.
Since the opening of the south-bound tunnel in March 2024, an impressive 50 lakh vehicles have passed through, while the north-bound tunnel, which opened in June, has seen 32 lakh vehicles. The 10.58-km Coastal Road, connecting the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, is expected to be fully operational by 26th January 2025. Currently, the BMC is also working on an Expression of Interest for developing landscaping and a 7.5-metre promenade along the stretch. In response to growing concerns, particularly from South Mumbai residents, the BMC has emphasized the urgent need for stricter speed enforcement. Complaints have surfaced regarding motorists and bikers using the stretch between the tunnel exits and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link as an unofficial racing track.
To address these issues, advanced cameras will be installed at critical points along the road, including the tunnel exits. These cameras will automatically capture the registration numbers of vehicles exceeding the speed limit, sending e-challans directly to the driver’s phone. On open sections of the road, the speed limit is 80 km/h, while inside the tunnels, it is 60 km/h. Currently, 154 cameras monitor vehicle movement within the tunnels. “We have received several complaints about speeding on the stretch, and while the advanced cameras will be ready in two months, we have requested the Joint Commissioner (Traffic Police) to deploy additional forces in the meantime to address the issue,” said a senior official from the BMC.
The Coastal Road has seen a steady increase in vehicle traffic. In March, the daily average number of vehicles on the south-bound carriageway was 13,874, which increased to 23,099 vehicles by December. Similarly, the north-bound road, which opened in June, saw an increase from 14,604 vehicles per day to 21,520 vehicles by the end of the year. As the Coastal Road becomes more integral to Mumbai’s transport network, the BMC is working to ensure that safety standards are in place to prevent accidents and maintain smooth traffic flow. The installation of advanced cameras is part of broader efforts to modernize traffic management systems along the road.
