Coastal Road Project Gets ₹5,500 Cr Boost
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has unveiled an ambitious financial blueprint for the fiscal year 2025–26, underscoring a significant commitment to infrastructural development with a total budget of ₹74,366 crore. A key highlight of the budget is the allocation of over ₹5,500 crore towards the development of Mumbai’s Coastal Road, encompassing both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project. This decisive fiscal measure aims to enhance urban connectivity and significantly reduce travel time across some of the city’s busiest corridors.
Phase 1 of the Coastal Road Project, which commenced in March 2024, involved the construction of a 10.58-kilometre stretch extending from BD Somani Chowk—situated 280 metres before the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive—to Worli, where it integrates with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). For the maintenance and completion of the south section of this vital corridor, the BMC has earmarked ₹1,516 crore. With an estimated overall cost of ₹13,060 crore for Phase 1, this allocation is poised to significantly boost the project’s progress, ensuring the coastal route remains robust and efficient.
Complementing Phase 1, Phase 2 is designed to connect Versova and Dahisar and has been allocated a substantial ₹4,000 crore. This phase is strategically critical as it is expected to alleviate severe traffic congestion by providing commuters with a rapid, signal-free corridor that could reduce travel times between Marine Drive and the BWSL from nearly 45–50 minutes to less than 10 minutes. The initiative not only promises enhanced commuter convenience but is also set to stimulate broader economic benefits by improving access to key commercial hubs.
Beyond the coastal road, the BMC budget for 2025–26 also prioritises other essential urban services including waste management and educational infrastructure, as well as major road projects such as the Goregoan Mulund Link Road. By focusing on these critical areas, the civic body is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable urban development and improved quality of life for Mumbai’s residents. The substantial investment in the Coastal Road Project is a testament to the BMC’s forward-looking approach to modernising Mumbai’s transportation network, and it is expected to serve as a catalyst for further infrastructural enhancements across the city.
