July 10, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has officially begun on-ground work for Package B of the Coastal Road (North) Phase II, marking the first visible step towards connecting Versova to Bhayandar. According to Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, trenching has commenced along the segment of the route that lies outside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
The Coastal Road North project is divided into seven construction packages. Currently, only Package B has moved forward, as the remaining six fall under CRZ jurisdiction and require comprehensive environmental clearances. “Work on these CRZ segments will commence only after all relevant environmental permissions are granted,” Bangar noted.
Last month, the BMC secured stage 1 in-principle clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for mangrove diversion related to the Versova–Bhayandar section. The civic body will now seek final approval from the Bombay High Court.
Bangar, during a site inspection in Andheri West, emphasised the complexity of the northern section. “We’re addressing multiple interchanges and focusing on easing potential bottlenecks. This section will transform Mumbai’s connectivity, linking the southern tip directly with the western suburbs,” he said.
The project’s northern stretch is being developed in two parts: Bandra to Versova by MSRDC, and Versova to Bhayandar by the BMC. With an estimated cost of Rs 22,000 crore, the 20-km project will include elevated roads, interchanges, bridges, and tunnels passing through Malad, Malvani, Kandivli, Borivli, Dahisar, Mira Road, and Bhayandar.
The Coastal Road aims to cut commute times from up to two hours down to just 15–20 minutes, while also reducing carbon emissions by 55% through fuel savings. However, environmental concerns persist, with the project set to impact 8.24 hectares of mangrove forest, potentially affecting nearly 9,000 mangrove trees.
Source: The Free Press Journal
