Coastal Bridge’s South Carriageway Expected To Open September 15

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that one section of the highly anticipated Coastal Road project, connecting with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL), is set to open this month. According to BMC officials, the tentative date for the partial opening is September 15, 2024.  This initial phase will see the south-bound carriageway becoming operational, primarily facilitating northbound traffic from Marine Drive towards Bandra.

The specific traffic arrangements will be finalised in coordination with Mumbai’s traffic police. Over the past weekend, benefiting from a relatively dry spell, the asphalting of the final 180-metre stretch was completed, marking a significant milestone in the project. The focus now shifts to the remaining work, with one arm of the bridge expected to be fully operational by the end of this month. However, the construction on the other arm is projected to extend until the end of the year. This delay is due to the pending installation of two crucial spans. BMC plans to inaugurate a new promenade stretching from Breach Candy to Worli by year-end, featuring a dedicated cycling track.

The two arch bridge spans, measuring 136 metres on the right-hand side (RHS) and 144 metres on the left-hand side (LHS), are integral to this project. Together, they weigh approximately 4,000 metric tonnes. The total steel requirement for the project, sourced from Jindal Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, amounts to 7,000 metric tonnes. The LHS bridge is notably larger due to a curvature design. To combat corrosion from the coastal environment, a five-level paint coating is being applied. In response to recent concerns about the differing levels of the bridge spans, BMC clarified that the northbound carriageway is elevated to accommodate the curvature of the approach road from J.K. Kapur Chowk. This design consideration ensures a smooth transition and proper alignment with the existing infrastructure.