Mumbai: Mumbai Coastal Road is facing controversy again after a video showing patchwork on the northbound stretch near Haji Ali, on the bridge towards Worli, went viral on social media platform X on Thursday. However, civic officials have clarified that the patches will be milled as needed, and a new layer of asphalt will be applied in accordance with the required specifications.
The 10.58-km Mumbai Coastal Road, stretches from the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). On Thursday, a video recorded from a car’s dashboard, showing poorly executed road patches on the Coastal Road, was shared by a user named Eternal Drift on social media platform X, igniting widespread outrage.
The post read, "This is beyond disappointing. Mumbai’s Rs. 14,000 crore Coastal Road already looks like patchwork. I feel betrayed—this was supposed to be world-class infrastructure. L&T and BMC must be held accountable. Is this what we paid for?"
Civic officials explained, “The asphalting work on the northbound carriageway of the bridge at Haji Ali was completed during the pre-monsoon period, which caused some separation at the joints in the days that followed. To prevent further damage during the monsoon, these areas were temporarily repaired with mastic asphalt. These patches will be milled as necessary, and a new layer of asphalt will be applied according to specifications. The work is being planned accordingly.”
The coastal road since March 2024 has been opened up in phases and still awaits its full commissioning. The northbound carriage of the bow-string bridge, which connects the Coastal Road to the BWSL was opened for vehicular traffic on January 27, 2025.
This new route has been a major boon for motorists, slashing travel time between Bandra and Marine Drive to just 10-12 minutes and offering a much-needed, faster alternative for thousands of daily commuters. The road has reduced travel time by 70% and fuel consumption by 34%, claims BMC.
