October 29, 2025: The much-anticipated Ulwe Coastal Road, designed to link the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) directly with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, is expected to be completed by 2026. The 5.8-kilometre stretch, along with an additional 0.9-kilometre spur leading to the airport terminal, will provide travellers from South Mumbai with a seamless, time-saving route that bypasses the longer detour via Chirle and Wahal — cutting travel time by around 25 minutes.
Starting from Aamra Marg in Belapur, the coastal corridor will pass through Seawoods, Ulwe, Bamandongri, and Targhar before merging with the Atal Setu interchange at Shivaji Nagar. This will enhance last-mile connectivity to the airport, significantly improving access for both passengers and logistics.
Initially planned as a standard embankment road with an estimated budget of Rs 700 crore, the project underwent a major redesign after the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance required sections passing through mangrove areas to be built on stilts. The eco-sensitive redesign increased the project cost to approximately Rs 1,600 crore. Coordination with the railways for a bridge over the Nerul–Uran line and negotiations with the local fishing community also added to the delay.
A compensation committee was set up to ensure fair treatment for fisherfolk, while maintaining access to water channels during construction.
As of now, Phase I of the project is 60% complete, and Phase II has reached 30% progress. CIDCO aims to finish the project by September 2026 and open it to the public by October or November. The Ulwe Coastal Road, protecting about 3,700 mangroves, is being hailed as a model for balancing connectivity and environmental conservation.
Source: Times Property
