Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on 2 November that the long-anticipated expansion of Mumbai’s Coastal Road towards Virar in the Palghar district is now set to move forward, with all major approvals and clearances secured.
The existing Coastal Road connects Marine Drive in South Mumbai to Worli, linking seamlessly with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The next phases will extend the corridor further north, first to Versova, and eventually to Virar, creating a continuous, high-speed route along Mumbai’s western coastline.
Once completed, the travel time between Nariman Point and Virar is expected to drop to around 35–40 minutes, significantly improving mobility and reducing congestion across the metropolitan region.
According to a PTI report, the project has obtained key clearances for land acquisition, saltpan land transfers, and permissions from the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), the Ministry of Environment, and the Forest Department.
“With all permissions now in place, the project can advance at full pace,” Goyal said after chairing a high-level review meeting in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and various state departments.
Representing North Mumbai in Parliament, Goyal mentioned that he has been consistently reviewing the project’s progress with state and central authorities to ensure timely implementation. He added that the extended coastal corridor would not only ease commuting for northern suburbs but also enhance overall city connectivity and support tourism and business activities along the western belt.
During the review, the minister also highlighted that work on the Madh-Versova Bridge has been expedited, while construction of the Borivali-Thane tunnel is expected to begin within the next two months.
Goyal further instructed local agencies to address persistent traffic bottlenecks on the Western Express Highway, strengthen sanitation and water supply systems in areas such as Gorai and Charkop, and take strict measures against illegal dumping and encroachments.
He concluded that the Coastal Road extension represents a critical leap toward transforming Mumbai’s transport infrastructure, improving urban connectivity, and creating a more sustainable mobility network for the future.
