Mumbai’s beloved Worli sea face is making a striking return—this time as part of a transformative coastal infrastructure project. Reimagined as a 7.5-km seafront promenade, the new walkway is set to open by mid-June, reconnecting the city’s residents with a cherished urban edge that had long disappeared behind barricades and construction.
Stretching from Priyadarshini Park at Breach Candy to the southern end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the newly built pedestrian realm is not just a restoration, but a redefinition of the city’s relationship with its western coastline.Historically, the Worli sea face has served as a calm escape from Mumbai’s frenzied pace—a stretch of open views and salt-laced air frequented by early risers, joggers, and film crews. The site’s cultural memory is etched in popular cinema, visible in classic Hindi films like Brahmachari where the area was immortalised in song. Yet, from its colonial past to the rise of luxury high-rises in the 2000s and the inauguration of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link in 2009, the promenade’s character has continually evolved with the city’s urban fabric.
This latest transformation—part of the Dharamveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road Project—is the most ambitious yet. The sea-facing pathway, 20 metres wide, is designed to foster public accessibility, sustainable transport, and green recreation. Backed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and corporate participation, the promenade is embedded in a broader vision to reclaim and green 70 hectares of land from the sea.Of this reclaimed expanse, 12 hectares are dedicated to the promenade, while five hectares in the central median are being developed under a corporate social responsibility initiative. Approximately 70% of the stretch will be landscaped, featuring native flora to improve air quality, climate resilience, and aesthetics. The remaining 30% will host cycle tracks, shaded walkways, and public seating to encourage low-carbon urban mobility and social inclusivity.
Crucially, the corridor integrates 20 underpasses, spaced at intervals of 400 metres, enabling safe pedestrian movement across the eight-lane expressway that flanks the promenade. It also features nine access points from various locations including Mahalaxmi, Lotus Jetty, and Haji Ali Juice Centre, ensuring seamless integration with the city’s diverse neighbourhoods. The sea walk will be open 24×7, though adjacent parks will follow an 8 am to 8 pm schedule.The entire promenade forms part of the first phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, a 9.5-km link between Marine Lines and Worli, which opened to vehicular traffic in March 2024. It includes a 2.07-km undersea tunnel, three interchanges, 10 bus bays, and four underground parking facilities with a combined capacity of 1,800 vehicles. The second phase, currently under construction, will connect Worli to Bandra and ultimately to Dahisar in the north, reshaping the city’s north-south commuting patterns.
Planners estimate that once complete, the coastal road could reduce travel time between South Mumbai and its northern suburbs from over two hours to approximately 40 minutes—offering tangible relief from the city’s chronic congestion. More importantly, the sea walk heralds a paradigm shift in how urban waterfronts are designed and utilised in India’s financial capital.
In a city where land is scarce and the urban pulse rarely slows, the return of the Worli sea face stands as a bold civic statement. It champions equitable access to open space, prioritises people over cars, and reclaims the coast not just for infrastructure—but for life.
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