The much-anticipated Mumbai Coastal Road, a critical infrastructure project, has hit a snag with the discovery of a leakage in the recently opened south-bound tunnel. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now pushed forward the opening of the entire road by almost five months, from May to October this year, in order to address the issue. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured the public that the main structure of the road is safe, and the leakage, which is from the expansion joints, is being addressed as a priority. The delay in the project's completion is also attributed to a labour shortage and the upcoming monsoon season, which will impact road construction. Despite these challenges, the BMC remains committed to delivering this crucial infrastructure project to the people of Mumbai.
Concerns over a leakage in the recently opened Mumbai coastal road have led the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to push forward the opening of the entire road by almost five months, from May to October this year.
Following complaints of leakage in the Mumbai Coastal Road's south-bound tunnel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the work site. He stated that the leakage was from the expansion joints and was being addressed as a priority. Shinde assured the media that the main structure of the road is completely safe and that the upcoming monsoon should not be a concern for the leakage to continue. He has instructed the civic administration to carry out injection grouting through the affected expansion joints to seal the seepage and provide a permanent solution.
Shinde also announced that the second phase of the coastal road, which has the north-bound carriageway from Marine Drive to Haji Ali, would be opened to traffic on June 10.
The remaining part of the road up to the Bandra Worli Sea Link is expected to be completed by October 2024. This delay comes nearly two years after the project's original deadline in 2022, when the works first began in December 2018. The total project cost stands at Rs 13,984 crore.
Officials have cited two reasons for the current delay: a labour shortage due to approximately 20% of the workers employed at the site returning to their native places, a common occurrence during May; and the upcoming monsoon, which will prevent the laying of bitumen, a critical component in road construction. So far, 89.2% of the total project work is complete, with 88% of road construction and 91% of interchange work done.
The opening of the coastal road was initially delayed from November 2023 to March 2024 due to a change in the navigation span between piers 7 and 8, which was increased from 56 meters to 120 meters in 2022.
The Mumbai Coastal Road project, once completed, will provide a much-needed solution to the city's chronic traffic congestion and improve connectivity along the coastline. While the current delay is a setback, the BMC's proactive approach in addressing the leakage and the commitment to deliver the project by October 2024 demonstrates their dedication to ensuring the successful completion of this vital infrastructure project. As the city eagerly awaits the full opening of the coastal road, the public can take solace in the fact that the authorities are working diligently to overcome the challenges and deliver this transformative development for the people of Mumbai.
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