After a brief break of three months, the work on the 10.6-km Mumbai Coastal Road resumed this week, following which the authorities issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday.
The project, which connects the iconic Marine Drive in the south to Kandivili in the north, comprises an eight-lane road and twin tunnels. Though the work was set to finish by November this year, it got delayed reportedly due to protests by fisherfolk from Worli Koliwada and the damage sustained to the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
The TBM used for the project is the biggest so far to be ever used in any project and the replacement for the damaged part had to come from Italy. The work resumed last week after the TBM's spare part arrived.
According to the officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 72 per cent of the work has been completed. The remaining 28 per cent would be finished by next May, reported The Times Of India.
Of the two tunnels, that connect Girgaon Chowpatty with Priyadarshini Park in Malabar Hill, the work on the first was completed in January 2022. The boring work for the second tunnel began from Girgaon in March 2022 but had to be halted after the machine broke down. "The boring work for the second tunnel began from Girgaon in March 2022 but each day only a few metres is being done so there are no hiccups again," a BMC official told The Times Of India.
Traffic restrictions
Now that the work has resumed in full swing, a traffic advisory has been issued by the Mumbai Traffic Police, instructing motorists on the use of the NS Road. The circular added that SWD work will be carried out on the Southbound carriageway of Marine Drive (between Taraporewala Aquarium and Islam Gymkhana) for the next five months.
Hence, all vehicle users have been asked to use N.S. road (Marine Drive) southbound only if required. The existing southbound traffic on the NS Road will be routed through the service road running parallel to the gymkhanas.
Due to coastal road construction, SWD Drainage outfall work will be carried out on Southbound carriageway of Marine Drive (btwn Taraporewala Aquarium & Islam Gymkhana) for the next 5 months.
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) March 19, 2023
Alternative routes have been set as follows:#MTPUpdates pic.twitter.com/mQGXO3Momc
The advisory has also instructed motorists intending to travel to South Mumbai (Colaba, Cuffe parade, Churchigate Nariman Point) to use Maharassicarve road.
The route shall be:
*Kemps Corner, Nana Chowk, Opera House, Saifee Hospital, Godha Gadi Junction, Marine Lines Station, Income Tax Office, Churchgate Junction, Godrej Junction, and further move ahead to their desired destination.
* Peddar Road, RTI Junction, Cecil Junction, Sukh Sagar Junction, take a left turn, Opera House, Saifee Hospital, Godha Gadi Junction, Marine Lines Station, Income Tax Office, Churchgate Junction and further move ahead to their desired destination.
*Walkeshwar, Bandstand, Wilson College, Chowpatty, Opera House, Saifee Hospital, Godha Gadi Junction, Marine Lines Station, Income Tax Office, Churchgate Junction, and further move ahead to their desired destination.
