Mahayuti, MVA allies spar over leakages, delays in Mumbai coastal road project

War of words erupts over Mumbai coastal road project delays and water seepage, exposing corruption allegations and political blame games.

A war of words has erupted between constituents of the ruling Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra over the ₹13,983-crore Mumbai coastal road project — officially named Dharmveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road — over water seepage and delays in the high-speed corridor.

The row broke out after leakages in two to three expansion joints were reported at the southbound tunnel, which is part of the first phase of the road that was inaugurated on March 11. The 9.5-km stretch cut down travel time between Worli and Marine Drive in south Mumbai from 40-45 minutes to 10 minutes.

While inspecting the tunnel, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the leakages would be plugged and the project’s second phase, catering to northbound traffic between Haji Ali and Marine Drive, would be opened on June 10. He also said the complete stretch between Marine Drive and Bandra Worli Sea Link, which was due to be opened by May-end, will be completed by October-end.

Further extension of the deadline saw leaders of the Opposition alliance levelling corruption allegations against the State government and raising questions on the quality of construction of the project.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray said the project, which began in November 2018, would have been completed and opened to citizens by December 2023 if the MVA had been in power. He said the first phase was inaugurated in haste to claim credit for the project before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and that the MVA would probe the delay when it forms the government.

“After the corrupt regime toppled our regime, they slowed down the work, and worked on cost escalation,” he said in a post on X, referring to the cost escalation of ₹1,262 crore of the project initially pegged at ₹12,721 crore.

The coastal road project is plagued by corruption and shoddy work has exposed the corrupt government, said Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Wednesday.