Mumbai- As the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road (MCR) was thrown open for motorists, Mumbaikars gave a big thumbs up and a big smile – a day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde started it with a drive in a 94-year-old vintage Rolls Royce beauty. Scores of vehicles were seen entering the south-north arm of the MCR at Marine Lines and the motorists were highly surprised to complete the commute to Haji Ali junction in barely 8 minutes flat – a far cry from the agonizing which took nearly about an hour. Many motorists raved about the MCR – officially a mouthful, as ‘Dharmveer Swarajrakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road’ – as their vehicles flew through the new thoroughfare including a tunnel which is going under the Malabar Hill and emerging at the new interchange at Haji Ali junction, along the Arabian Sea shore.
The balance part of the project which is running up to Bandra Worli Sea, is predicted to be completed in a month or so and the whole phase will be completely ready by October affording Mumbaikarsa a, huge relief by saving time, fuel, pollution, and other benefits. Pradeep Menon a global marketing consultant decided from his Powai home to go on a joy-ride, driving first to Marine Lines (north-south), reversing at Churchgate to go in the newly-inaugurated (south-north)stretch, and coming out at Haji Ali. This was incredible. I could complete the stretch in just 20 minutes both ways, plus it is toll-free and on par with similar projects the world over, admired an awed Menon to IANS. Many other motorists spoke to the media lavishing praises on the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state government for giving a long overdue and huge infrastructure project to the country’s commercial capital, and how it would be an advantage for the future generations.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde initiated the first phase, around 10.5 km long, the north-south arm from Worli to Marine Lines, along with the twin tunnels, which were immensely popular with motorists. The Chief Minister said that the new stretch has been equipped with all the modern facilities and will be an advantage as it shall decongest traffic to and from south Mumbai to the northern places of the town. The work to link MCR with the BWSL bridge at Worli is also about to be completed. Within the next few years, the coastal road will be made up to Borivali in northwest Mumbai, with many interchanges, big and small bridges, tunnels, etc.
