Construction of the Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road (DBLR), a key section of Mumbai’s Northern Coastal Road, is moving ahead, with authorities reviewing construction progress and speeding up work on critical land parcels.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar recently inspected the Bhayander casting yard, assessing precast manufacturing, construction activity, quality-control systems, equipment and safety arrangements. Officials were instructed to speed up the acquisition of essential land parcels and improve coordination with the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation and other concerned agencies.
The civic administration has also stressed strict adherence to safety norms, proper barricading and timely completion of work without compromising construction quality.
5.13-Km DBLR Section
The Northern Coastal Road is planned as an approximately 60-km corridor linking Versova and Bhayander through a combination of elevated roads, interchanges and connecting routes. The project has been divided into seven packages — A, B, C, D, E, F and DBLR.
The DBLR package covers about 5.135 km and includes elevated stretches, stilt-supported roads through mangrove zones, creek crossings, structures over salt-pan areas, connector roads, flyovers and interchanges.
A 3.83-km elevated main road, with a width of 45 metres, is being constructed as the final major stretch of the corridor.
Once the complete coastal connection is operational, travel time between Versova and Bhayander is expected to fall from around 90-120 minutes to approximately 15-20 minutes. The broader project is estimated to cost around Rs 20,000 crore.
Southern Coastal Road Sees Higher Traffic
Meanwhile, traffic volumes on the completed southern section of Mumbai’s Coastal Road have risen significantly since the corridor began operating round the clock on August 15, 2025.
Before 24×7 operations, the road functioned for approximately 16 hours a day and recorded an average of 34,538 vehicles daily. Following the introduction of unrestricted access, average daily traffic climbed to 62,640 vehicles, an increase of nearly 81%.
Monthly traffic also rose from around 11.35 lakh vehicle movements to approximately 18.79 lakh, representing an increase of nearly 66%. Since the southern section opened in March 2024, roughly 4.11 crore vehicle movements have been recorded.
The increase indicates that operating-hour restrictions had previously limited usage, with overnight access releasing additional demand.
Integration Will Be Key
Despite the growth in traffic, usage remains below the levels originally projected for the Rs 13,984-crore southern Coastal Road project. Limited public transport connectivity along the corridor has also remained a concern.
As construction advances towards Bhayander, the experience of the southern section could offer useful lessons for the northern extension. While the new corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel times and improve road connectivity, its broader success will depend on how effectively it connects with Mumbai’s existing roads, public transport systems and wider regional infrastructure.
The DBLR therefore represents not just another road project, but an important link in Mumbai’s evolving coastal transport network, with the potential to reshape travel between the western suburbs and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Source: Mumbai Live
