Breach Candy's Traffic Woes: BMC Explores New Exit Solution Amid Resident Demands

Residents of the upscale Breach Candy area in south Mumbai are hopeful for improvements as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has indicated that building an additional exit for the Mumbai Coastal Road at Nepean Sea Road is feasible. However, the project may face challenges and significant costs, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report.

At a recent meeting attended by Breach Candy residents, Malabar Hill MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and senior BMC officials, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Amit Saini discussed the plans. He stated that while the exit is possible, there are obstacles that need to be addressed, and the expenses could be high.

One proposed solution is to create a vehicular underpass for southbound traffic after the Amarsons interchange. This underpass would connect to a new road on reclaimed land at Breach Candy, allowing traffic to flow toward Nepean Sea Road. Saini emphasised that these ideas are still in the discussion phase and require further study.

The demand for an additional exit has been voiced since the coastal road opened earlier this year. Local residents have reported increased congestion at the Amarsons interchange on Bhulabhai Desai Road, which is one of the primary exits from the coastal road.

According to Nandini Chabria, a member of the Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF), over 50 per cent of southbound traffic between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM is heading towards Nepean Sea Road from the Bandra Kurla Complex, contributing to the congestion. This situation has highlighted the need for another southbound exit.

Support from MLA Lodha, backed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has encouraged the BMC to reconsider its earlier stance that an additional exit was unfeasible.

BMC officials noted that the proposed exit would resemble a service road, but various challenges exist. A pedestrian underpass is planned for access to the coastal road promenade, which runs from Breach Candy to Haji Ali, and a stormwater drain valve must be modified to facilitate the new underpass.

Another challenge is the existing bus stops at the site of the proposed underpass. There may also be a need for a new pedestrian underpass further ahead as the road transitions from the underpass to the exit over the coastal road's tunnels.

Land acquisition is another concern, as the proposed site for the exit is owned by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The BMC has yet to receive a response from the MSRDC regarding its request to use the land.

With MLA Lodha's support, BMC officials are optimistic about the project's progress. Once approval from MSRDC is obtained, the BMC will engage AECOM, the infrastructure consulting firm for the coastal road, to conduct a feasibility study for the exit.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for early March, during which the coastal road department will prepare design plans and cost estimates for the Nepean Sea Road exit. If the project proceeds, the BMC will seek permission from the Supreme Court to amend the project parameters.

In related discussions, members of the BCRF agreed to reconsider their opposition to an underground car park planned at the Amarsons interchange. Lodha assured residents that one floor of the car park would be reserved for them, addressing the parking issues faced by local residents and visitors to the coastal road.