The 29.80 km Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) is an access-controlled expressway with a route connecting Princess Street Flyover in South Mumbai with Kandivali in the northern suburbs.

The project’s 10.58 km Phase 1 (southern section) is under construction between Marine Drive and Bandra Worli Sea-link by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, or Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. 

It comprises of an 8 lane road reclaimed from the sea, bridge on stilts, elevated road, twin-tunnels under Malabar Hills, new green spaces, sea wall / break water wall and multiple interchanges for traffic dispersal.

The project’s roughly 19 km Phase 2 (northern section) will connect Bandra with Kandivali. In Jan 2022, APCO Infratech – Webuild JV was awarded a roughly Rs. 9,000 crore contract by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation for the 9.6 km Versova – Bandra Sea Link (VBSL) project’s construction.

The coastal road project seeks to create large patches of open green space, a rarity in Mumbai. About 90 hectares will be reclaimed for the project of which 70 hectares will be landscaped to provide cycle tracks, promenades, amphitheaters, children’s play areas and other recreational space.

The project’s Phase 2 involves constructing a 19.22 km northern extension between Bandra – Versova – Kandivali comprising of a 9.6 km Bandra-Versova Sea Link with connectors to Bandra (1.17 km), Carter Road (1.80 km) and Juhu Koliwada (2.80 km).

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's latest venture, the most expensive project to date, is poised to undergo a radical transformation of Mumbai's western seafront, revolutionizing the daily commute for a majority of the city's residents.

When integrated with other ongoing infrastructure initiatives, this project is anticipated to significantly reduce travel time from the luxurious Marine Drive to Bandra.

With a budget of Rs 12,721 crore, the road will establish a crucial link between north and south Mumbai, slashing travel time from over 40 minutes to a mere 12 minutes.

A groundbreaking feature of this project is the introduction of the country's first under-sea tunnel, boasting a spacious 40-feet wide corridor. 

Beyond its local impact, the road is poised to set a precedent for numerous coastal cities across India grappling with overwhelming traffic challenges.

Meanwhile, the BMC is racing against the clock, with approximately two weeks remaining to unveil the southbound lane of the Coastal Road, as the overall project nears 84 per cent completion.

The BMC's target is to open the southbound lane around February 9, allowing access from 8 am to 8 pm exclusively on weekdays during the initial phase. Only a section of the interchange arms will be activated in this first stage.

On Wednesday, BMC granted access to media to the project. Journalists observed workers putting finishing touches on the road, including tasks such as filling necessary portions, painting, and installing electric poles. 

A contractor appointed by the civic body mentioned that about 40 electricity poles in the Breach Candy section of the interchange are expected to be energized by Wednesday.

Chief engineer of the project M Swami stated, "We are working towards opening one lane of the road very soon. Since work on the seaward side of the stretch will continue until May 2024, we are considering installing a green net on the southbound side to prevent distractions for motorists passing through that stretch due to ongoing work on the other side."

On the 10.6km Marine Drive to Worli road, a majority of works from Marine Drive to Breach Candy have been completed, but substantial portions of the work are left towards the Worli-end of the road as plans saw last-minute changes.