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The bridge will be operational from 7 am to 12 midnight, helping to reduce travel time from Bandra to Marine Drive to just 10-15 minutes.
With 94% of the work completed, the road will be fully operational by February, when the Prabhadevi connector is set to open. (Photo: Hindustan Times)
The new north-bound bridge linking the Mumbai Coastal Road with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is now open to the public.
The bridge, which will operate from 7 am to 12 midnight, is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Bandra and Marine Drive, cutting the journey to just 10 to 15 minutes, as per NDTV.
Three newly-inaugurated interchanges will improve connectivity to key areas like Worli, Prabhadevi, Lower Parel, and Lotus Junction.
The Coastal Road Project: All You Need To Know
The Mumbai Coastal Road project, part of Mumbai’s master plan dating back to 1967, began in 2018 and was originally slated to finish by 2022. Delays, mainly due to the pandemic, have pushed the completion date, but the project has already cost around Rs 14,000 crore.
The first phase, which covers 10.58 km, links the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. It features 4+4 lanes and modern infrastructure, including a bridge on stilts, elevated roads, and twin tunnels. Key interchanges at locations like Amarsons Garden, Haji Ali, and Worli Seaface are designed to smooth traffic flow.
India’s First Undersea Tunnel
A standout feature is India’s first undersea tunnel, which has been operational since March 2024. The tunnel runs 17 to 20 metres below sea level and stretches 2.07 km, from Girgaon near Marine Drive to Priyadarshini Park at Breach Candy.
The south-bound stretch from Worli to Marine Drive opened on March 11, while the north-bound arm opened in June. The final stretch from Haji Ali to Worli opened in July.
The new north-bound bridge is 827 metres long, with 699 metres over the sea. It includes a 143-metre long ‘Bow Arch String Girder’ weighing around 2,400 metric tons.
Second Phase Underway
Work on the second phase of the Coastal Road project, which spans 20 km between Versova and Dahisar, is ongoing. The coastal road has already reduced the commute from Girgaon to Worli, cutting it from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes, and the journey from south Mumbai to the airport is now quicker as well.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the environmental benefits, noting that the project will save time, reduce fuel consumption, and cut pollution.
With 94 percent of the work completed, the road will be fully operational by February, when the Prabhadevi connector is set to open.
