PM Modi to Inaugurate Toll-Free Mumbai Coastal Road on February 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the toll-free Mumbai Coastal Road Project's north-south portion of Phase 1 on February 19, marking the 394th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The project, officially named 'Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Motorway', is being executed by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from its own resources.

Upon Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's suggestion, the motorway will be toll-free for Mumbai commuters, reducing travel time from Worli to Marine Lines, a distance of 10.58 km, from 50 minutes to 15 minutes.

The 8-lane, 29.2 km long grade-separated motorway, costing around Rs 12,700 crore, will link Marine Drive with Kandivali suburb via the city's western coastal route, the first of its kind in the state.

The project was first proposed by Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray in 2013, with work commencing in 2017-2018. Although the Covid-19 pandemic slowed progress, it has since picked up pace.

Worli MLA Aditya Thackeray, reflecting on the project's history, criticized the current government's approach, highlighting that by June 2022, under the previous regime, the project had achieved 65% completion.