
Three Accidents in Five Months: Is Mumbai’s Coastal Road Tunnel a Safety Trap?
Mumbai’s highly anticipated Coastal Road project — a hallmark of urban infrastructure in India’s financial capital — has quickly become a point of concern. Since the partial opening of the twin tunnel segment in February 2025, the road has seen three accidents in just five months, raising serious questions about design safety, driver behavior, and the readiness of the infrastructure for public use.
The latest incident occurred when a government SUV overturned inside the southbound tunnel, sending shockwaves through Mumbai’s civic and transport authorities. The vehicle, driven by food inspector Vikas Sonawane, reportedly skidded while trying to avoid a water puddle. Although Sonawane escaped with only minor injuries — thanks to airbag deployment and seatbelt use — the accident once again put the spotlight on a project meant to symbolize progress, not peril.
What makes the crash particularly concerning is the CCTV footage, which contradicts the initial explanation. The footage shows the SUV traveling at a considerably high speed just before the crash, suggesting that speeding — not just infrastructure issues — could be a contributing factor. This discrepancy between the official statement and visual evidence raises questions about whether reckless driving, poor road conditions, or inadequate signage are the real culprits.
In response, the Mumbai Traffic Police have initiated a thorough investigation, looking into all three accidents to identify root causes. DCP (Traffic) South Region, Prashant Pardeshi, confirmed the department’s commitment to improving road safety: “We are analysing all three accidents to determine root causes and identify preventive measures.” Authorities are reportedly focusing on multiple risk factors, including sudden lane transitions, poor illumination, unclear signage, waterlogging, and the psychological effect of driving through an enclosed high-speed tunnel.
Since February, officials have reported 38 vehicle breakdowns and three accidents within the tunnel — an alarming statistic given the limited traffic currently using the road. With traffic volumes set to increase significantly by July, concerns are mounting about how the tunnel will handle the added pressure. The city has begun installing speed detection cameras, additional signboards, and reflective markers to improve visibility and reduce reckless behavior. Traffic police are also stepping up enforcement measures to deter speeding and lane indiscipline.
The 3.4-kilometre twin tunnel — connecting Marine Drive to Worli via Breach Candy — is a vital segment of the city’s Coastal Road network. Yet, the design includes a critical narrowing point where four lanes reduce to two. Experts believe that this abrupt transition, especially in a confined tunnel environment, can disorient drivers and lead to split-second decision-making errors. When combined with the novelty and smoothness of the road surface, there’s a tendency for drivers to overestimate their control, often accelerating far beyond safe limits.
Urban planners and transport engineers are now calling for urgent reassessment of tunnel ergonomics, including speed control measures, better drainage systems, and visual cues to alert drivers of lane narrowing well in advance. Some suggest deploying automated speed breakers, lane guidance sensors, and digital alerts to improve compliance.
As Mumbai positions itself as a smart city with world-class infrastructure, public safety must remain a top priority. Projects like the Coastal Road promise to reduce travel time and ease congestion, but these benefits must not come at the cost of life and limb. The next few months will be a critical litmus test for how the city balances innovation with accountability.
Whether these recent accidents are isolated events or early warnings of deeper systemic issues remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: Mumbai cannot afford to treat safety as an afterthought.