Bandra-Worli Sea Link Connector Inaugurated: Coastal Road Now Requires Toll; Find Out The New Charges

The Mumbai Coastal Road has reached another milestone with the opening of the final stretch connecting it to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, but this development brings an end to free rides on the route. Starting today, commuters will be required to pay a toll at the Bandra exit.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the northbound connector near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This marks the third section of the 10.5-kilometre coastal road to open in the past three months, with at least one more section expected to be completed in the coming months.

The stretch for southbound traffic is projected to be finished within the next three to four months. Notably, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was absent from the inauguration event.

The newly opened stretch was originally designated for southbound traffic but will temporarily serve northbound commuters. Once the southbound section is ready, this connector will revert to its intended direction. Starting today, traffic will be allowed from 7 a.m.

Vehicles will now be able to directly access the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, bypassing the previous detour at the Worli Sea Face road. Consequently, the Coastal Road, which was previously toll-free, will now require a fee of Rs 100 at the Bandra exit.

CM highlighted the road's impact on travel time, stating it would reduce the journey from two hours to just 20 minutes to reach Bandra. He also noted ongoing work on the Bandra-Versova Coastal Road, which is expected to extend to Virar and alleviate traffic congestion for many commuters.

The inauguration was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Guardian Ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Deepak Kesarkar, Additional Chief Secretary I S Chahal, and BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. In response to Pawar's absence, Fadnavis mentioned that Pawar had informed him in advance and would continue to use the road.

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the inauguration, expressing discontent on social media platform X. Thackeray accused the current administration of mismanagement and delay, asserting that the previous MVA government would have completed the project by December 2023, including pedestrian and cycling pathways, and a 96-hectare green space.

It’s a joke that the clueless and illegal cm of the regime is inaugurating every km of the delayed coastal road.

He should be Infact ashamed about the delay and the cost escalations.

The fact that the road surface in the tunnel and on the ramps is already horrible… in less…

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 12, 2024

In contrast, Fadnavis defended the progress of the project, attributing delays to the previous Uddhav Thackeray government. He claimed that the current administration had accelerated the project's pace and addressed concerns from fishermen regarding the distance between the pillars. However, the arms at Worli remain incomplete and are expected to take an additional six to eight months to finish, with parking lots and gardens still in the planning phase.

Timeline Of Coastal Road Openings

• March 11: The southbound arm of the Coastal Road route, between Worli and Marine Lines, opened.
• June 10: Northbound arm from Marine Lines to Lotus Jetty through Haji Ali opened.
• July 11: The stretch of Coastal Road from Haji Ali to Khan Abdul Gafar Khan Road opened without a formal inauguration.
• September 12: Arch Bridge opened, originally scheduled for the end of July but delayed due to monsoon and technical issues.