July 22, 2025:
In response to a spate of vehicle breakdowns and accidents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed the installation of 236 advanced CCTV cameras along the southern stretch of the Mumbai Coastal Road. This cutting-edge surveillance and traffic management system aims to enhance safety, ensure rapid emergency response, and provide critical traffic data, according to civic officials.
Spanning 10.58 kilometres from the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the Coastal Road has been progressively opened to traffic since last year. The final section—a 550-metre vehicular underpass linking Prabhadevi to Worli—was inaugurated on 30 May. Full 24/7 operations are anticipated by the end of July, significantly easing congestion along the corridor.
Despite phased openings, the road has seen 38 vehicle breakdowns and four accidents since February. Most incidents have occurred within the 3.4-km twin tunnel, where four lanes taper down to two, causing bottlenecks. Speeding and reckless driving—particularly by luxury vehicles—have also contributed to disruptions.
To address these concerns, BMC has deployed an integrated surveillance network. This includes 154 Video Incident Detection System (VIDS) cameras placed every 50 metres inside the tunnels to detect accidents, wrong-way driving, and other violations. The system sends real-time alerts to the control room, allowing for immediate action.
Additionally, 71 Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras offer dynamic coverage by automatically focusing on incidents flagged by the VIDS. Seven Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras monitor speeding vehicles and capture number plates for enforcement. Automatic Traffic Counting Cameras (ATCC) have also been installed at tunnel entry and exit points to record vehicle volume and types.
Officials stated the system will aid in curbing overspeeding, noise complaints, and improve coordination between BMC and the Mumbai Traffic Police.
Source: The Free Press Journal
