Mumbai's coastal road project partially operational by H1 2024

Iqbal Singh Chahal, Municipal Commissioner, announced that the deadline for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) had been extended by seven months due to alterations in the design of various sections. The project, initially scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of November, is now expected to become operational in the first half of 2024.

Chahal explained that the extension was necessary because of changes in the design of certain segments of the high-speed corridor project. He stated, "For the past few years, members of the Koli community had been requesting an increase in the gap between the pillars of the bridge connecting the coastal road with the Bandra-Worli sea link. This adjustment aims to facilitate the navigation of boats for the fisherfolk."

As per the corporation's initial plan, the gap between the two pillars was intended to be 60 metres. However, members of the fishing community insisted that this gap should be at least 200 meters. They argued that anything less would jeopardise their boats during the monsoon, and the presence of a rock bed in shallow waters could pose a threat to boats during high tides.

Continuous protests by the fishing community at the lotus jetty in Worli led to frequent halts in construction works. Chahal's statement conveyed the reasons behind the deadline extension, emphasising the importance of accommodating the concerns raised by the Koli community in the project's design.