Mid-Day test drive: Mumbai Coastal Road-Sea Link connector eases commute, but last-mile connectivity still a hurdle

While the connector linking the Coastal Road to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link undoubtedly cuts short the roughly one-hour journey from south Mumbai to the suburbs, last-mile connectivity hasn't been improved. It took mid-day 45 minutes to cover the 21-km distance between Fort and Bandra after travelling via the connector on Friday.

Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil Marg near Fashion Street in Fort. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The 15-km-long Coastal Road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link section was covered in 15 minutes flat. However, it took 13 minutes to traverse the three-kilometre distance from Fort to Marine Drive and 17 minutes to reach Bandra East from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link despite there being relatively less traffic due to the festive season.

The Princess Street flyover at Marine Drive, which was crossed in about two minutes

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) opened the connector at 7 am on September 13. Now, vehicles need not take an exit at Worli Sea Face to enter the suburbs. As reported by mid-day, motorists must pay a Rs 100 toll at the Bandra exit.

The Marine Drive entrance of the Coastal Road tunnel, where the speed limit is 60 kmph

The test drive

To determine the impact of the newly opened bowstring bridge on travel time, this reporter began her journey at 5.51 pm. There were fewer vehicles on the road as it was the seventh day of Ganesh immersions.

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which was crossed in three and a half minutes

From Mumbai University campus to Marine Drive flyover: It took 11 minutes to cross two kilometres as stops had to be made at the signals at the university, BSNL office and Metro INOX Cinema. The vehicle was held up on JSS Road at Dhobi Talao for four minutes due to traffic congestion. Crossing the Marine Drive flyover took two minutes but the vehicle was detained briefly due to VIP movement.

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link toll plaza, which wasn't as congested as expected on Friday morning

Coastal Road to the newly open connector: Travelling at a speed of 60 km per hour, the vehicle entered the Coastal Road at Marine Drive at 6.03 pm. It took hardly four minutes to cross the northbound tunnel. While the speed limit there is 60 km per hour, literally every vehicle was overtaking ours. We passed the Amarsons Garden and Haji Ali connectors within a few minutes. The third connector, at Worli, is still under construction. We crossed the newly opened connector by 6.15 pm, covering 10.5 km of the Coastal Road (from Marine Drive) within 11 and half minutes.

Traffic at the Kalanagar section of the Western Express Highway

The last leg

Bandra-Worli Sea Link: We reached the toll plaza of the Sea Link within three and a half minutes. Surprisingly, the spot wasn't congested. After paying Rs 100, we headed for Bandra East. Last three kilometres: The first stretch was comparatively easy but as we entered the Western Express Highway, bumper-to-bumper traffic awaited us. It took 17 minutes to cover a distance of two kilometres before taking a right turn at the collector's office.

Distance and time

Mumbai University to Marine Drive: 3 km - 13 min
Coastal Road and BWSL: 15 km - 15 min
BWSL to the collector's office, Bandra East: 3 km - 17 min