The city’s daily traffic nightmare may soon ease, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gears up to open a new underground subway in early May. According to a Lokmat report, the 520-metre-long subway is part of the ambitious Mumbai Coastal Road project and is expected to significantly reduce congestion between Worli, Prabhadevi, Nariman Point, and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. This will be the second underground passage under the project, following the undersea tunnel between Marine Drive and Priyadarshini Park. The construction of the new route is in its final stages. Key Connector Between South Mumbai and Suburbs Once operational, the subway will serve as a vital connector between South Mumbai and the Western Suburbs via the Sewri-Worli Connector. This is expected to cut down travel time and fuel consumption for thousands of daily commuters. The route will start at J. K. Kapoor Chowk, near Worli Seaface, and end at Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk. From there, motorists can either proceed southwards toward Nariman Point or head north using the Coastal Road toward the suburbs. Vehicles coming from the Sewri-Worli Connector will also get seamless access to the Coastal Road, enhancing intra-city connectivity. Coastal Road Nears Completion With the subway almost ready, the BMC is also preparing to open the final inter-lane of the project—stretching from Baroda Palace to Lotus Jetty. This will mark the completion of all 18 inter-lanes planned under the Coastal Road initiative, a project that has cost the city around Rs 12,700 crore (approx. Rs 127 billion). No Tunnel Leak, Says BMC Recently, viral images on social media sparked concerns about water leakage inside one of the tunnels. The BMC has since clarified that there is no leakage. The moisture seen in the photos was due to dust, humidity, and unfinished patchwork, not any structural fault. Officials confirmed that the tunnel’s fireboard cover does not allow water to pass through. A Move Towards Smoother Commutes This subway is part of a broader set of infrastructure upgrades aimed at transforming the daily commute in Mumbai. The Coastal Road project, featuring tunnels and fast-access inter-lanes, is designed to make travel faster, safer, and more efficient for Mumbaikars. Once this second underground link opens, regular travelers between South Mumbai and the suburbs can expect significant relief from traffic jams—just in time for the summer rush.