Mumbai: To ease traffic congestion in south Mumbai, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning a new six-lane road running parallel to Marine Drive. This road, which will stretch approximately 3 km between the Coastal Road and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), is part of the larger Orange Gate Marine Drive twin tunnel project.
About The Proposal
The proposal was reviewed in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, where it was revealed that the new road may require reclaiming parts of the Marine Drive promenade and sections of the Arabian Sea. Officials also hinted at the possibility of constructing a cantilever bridge, like the one on the Coastal Road, in areas where land is limited.
MMRDA is exploring a connection between this stretch and a proposed 1.77-km sea bridge from NCPA to Cuffe Parade. Fadnavis, speaking at the meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House, called for speedy implementation. “This is a vital step towards decongesting South Mumbai and integrating the Eastern Freeway with Atal Setu. Timely execution is critical,” he said.
Fadnavis has set an ambitious deadline: December 2028. Preliminary works, including tunnelling, land acquisition, and piling, are already in progress. Officials confirmed that a revised technical plan has been prepared in coordination with the transport department. Apart from the tunnel, upgrades to nearby roads such as S V Patel Road and Marine Drive are also planned.
In view of this development, residents of South Mumbai have raised concerns and put forward specific demands. “Residents must be taken into confidence during the planning of this road. A holistic solution to traffic congestion is needed,” said Ashok Gupta, Vice President of the Marine Drive Citizens Association, in a statement to the Free Press Journal. He emphasized that development cannot come at any cost.
“We have certain demands which we will present in the upcoming meetings. The project should move forward only after considering our inputs,” he added.
The new route is expected to accommodate the spike in traffic once the 6.5-km twin tunnel from Orange Gate to Marine Drive becomes operational. Atulkumar, President of the Marine Drive and Churchgate Citizens Association, said, “The Marine Drive makeover is a sensitive issue. We still don’t have clarity on how exactly this new road will be constructed or what the government’s detailed plans are. It’s crucial that residents are taken into confidence. The footpath and other key elements of Marine Drive must not be compromised.”
