Mumbai: Mumbai’s Coastal Road-South, has seen a steep surge in traffic, with usage multiplying nearly sevenfold since its launch in March 2024, almost two years ago. Monthwise data which TOI analysed since the road was started shows that while in the first month an average of 8,787 vehicles used the road, the number has gone up to 63,003 (March 2026).Overall 3.16 crore vehicles have used the arterial stretch in the two years since it opened just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Officially named as Dharamveer Swaraj Rakshak Chhatrapati Shambaji Mumbai Coastal Road, the Rs 13,893 crore high-speed corridor cut down travel time between Marine Drive and Worli to less than 10-minutes from the earlier 30-40 mins.In its first month of operations — March 2024 — the road saw a modest 2.63 lakh vehicles, averaging 8,787 daily trips, as it was opened mid-month. The following month, April 2024, recorded a jump to 4.36 lakh vehicles, or 14,538 daily. The real spike, however, has come over time. By March 2026, average daily traffic had climbed to 63,003 vehicles, with the monthly count touching 18.9 lakh. Civic officials attribute the sharp rise to the road being made fully operational round-the-clock from August 2025. From Independence Day last year, the road had been made fully operational and the sea-facing promenade was also opened up to the public, pulling an even larger crowd, said officials. By August 2025 itself, daily traffic stood at 45,961 vehicles, with a monthly total of 13.78 lakh.Vivek Pai, an architect and urban planner, said the Coastal Road and Metro have fundamentally reshaped mobility in South Mumbai, largely due to the signal-free commute the corridor offers. “However, the benefits have accrued mainly to car owners and those who can afford private taxis. There is an urgent need to introduce more BEST bus services on the Coastal Road so that the common commuter is not left out,” said Pai, adding that travel between South Mumbai and Bandra has become markedly seamless. An April 2016 detailed project report had projected an overall traffic growth rate of 2% per annum up to 2043, factoring in cars, two-wheelers, and buses. However, two-wheelers are currently not permitted on the Coastal Road, raising questions over the assumptions underpinning those projections.Nigum Lakhani, a Breach Candy resident who has watched the Coastal Road open in phases, said its early days saw a surge of “joy rides.” “That has largely tapered off now, with mostly routine users of the road now using the stretch,” he said. According to Lakhani, the road has eased congestion on Pedder Road, particularly around Jaslok Hospital. “But neighbourhoods like ours, where the interchanger comes up, are now seeing traffic pile-ups,” he added.
