Since then, traffic on the route has increased significantly. Average daily vehicle movement has risen from around 34,538 vehicles to 62,640 vehicles, an increase of nearly 81%.
Before 24×7 operations began, the Coastal Road was open for traffic for around 16 hours a day, from 7 am to midnight. During that period, an average of 19,209 vehicles travelled southbound and 15,330 travelled northbound every day.
After the road was opened throughout the day, southbound traffic increased to 33,077 vehicles, while northbound traffic reached 29,563 vehicles. The combined daily traffic now stands at 62,640 vehicles.
The monthly numbers have also increased. Before the 24×7 service, around 1.135 million vehicle movements were recorded on the road every month. This has now increased to around 1.88 million vehicles per month, a rise of about 66%.
The road was expected to handle around 68,000 vehicles in each direction based on the original planning estimates. However, the current traffic remains below the projected capacity.
The Coastal Road project was built at a cost of around ₹13,984 crore. Despite the increase in traffic, the road is still operating below its planned capacity.
Since March 2024, when different sections of the Coastal Road started opening in phases, around 410 million vehicle movements have been recorded on the route.
The project is also facing concerns over limited public transport. At present, only two BEST bus services operate on the Coastal Road — A84 between Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Chowk and Oshiwara Depot, and A78 between NCPA and Byculla.
Pedestrians, two-wheelers and heavy vehicles are not allowed on the signal-free road. As a result, people depending on public transport largely rely on BEST buses. MLA Raees Shaikh has demanded additional BEST buses on the route.
Meanwhile, the BMC is preparing to inaugurate new lighting on the arch bridge connecting the Coastal Road with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The lighting project has reportedly cost ₹18 crore and is expected to be inaugurated by the end of this month. A foundation stone ceremony for landscaping work along the Coastal Road is also planned on the same day.
The Coastal Road has helped make travel smoother up to Bandra. However, traffic congestion is still reported near the MHADA Junction in Bandra East and again near the university area.
Extending the Coastal Road further north could help improve traffic flow in these areas, according to the expectations outlined in the report.
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