MUMBAI: Commuters using Mumbai’s coastal road are irked that a project built with the promise of faster connectivity is yet to translate into dependable public transport. Despite crores spent on the corridor and the creation of a dedicated bus lane, only two BEST routes currently operate on the stretch with limited trips. Commuters say this defeats the purpose of a time-saving bypass, demanding more buses with increased frequency. Regular users point out that the coastal road offers a smoother ride, zero signals and a more predictable travel time compared to interior routes. Yet, low frequency means passengers often end up waiting for a long time, losing the advantage the corridor provides. “A-84 is a popular route, but frequency is pathetic. I got a bus after an hour-long wait and this is the minimum wait,” said Shubham Padave, a bus enthusiast, adding BEST should prioritise the coastal road given the quality of the road and the comfort of the journey. BEST officials said the intent was to scale up services on coastal road, but fleet constraints remained a key hurdle. The PRO claimed that these bus services benefit many commuters and the undertaking is “serious about giving coastal road buses priority.” Transport activists argue the underuse of the dedicated bus lane is a missed opportunity to shift commuters from private vehicles to mass transit, demanding at least 50-100 bus services daily on the stretch, with higher operating speeds and all-day availability. Urban transport expert Ashok Datar called for linking the coastal road corridor to a dedicated bus corridor on Western Express Highway (WEH), arguing it could reduce congestion, cut emissions and fuel use, and make road space efficient.
