Mumbai’s undersea Coastal Road tunnel leaks two months after opening; criticism pours in

The Coastal Road tunnel in Mumbai, India’s first undersea tunnel, encountered seepage and water leakage just two months after it was inaugurated amidst much fanfare.

On Sunday (26 May), evidence of seepage became apparent and videos of it have since been widely circulated on social media, triggering safety concerns ahead of the monsoon.

Visuals showed water dripping from the roof of the undersea tunnel and several dark spots on the walls where the paint had chipped off due to the dampness.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inspected the site and assured commuters that there was no reason to be alarmed and that the leaks would be fixed promptly.

“I immediately called the commissioner. There is leakage at two-three places,” said the CM. He assured that experts have been consulted and stated, “There is no threat to the original structure. It will be filled using specific technology, and we will find a permanent solution. Passengers will not face any problems. There will be no water here during the rainy season,” said Shinde.

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The CM told the reporters that leakage was from the expansion joints and is being addressed on priority. He further added that he has also suggested polymer grouting on all 25 joints on each side of the tunnel to avoid water seepage even during monsoon. It is still not clear what caused the leakage in the tunnel. The matter is being investigated.

Meanwhile, on social media, people questioned and mocked the quality of the construction. One X user wrote: “To all the Mumbaikars concerned about the $1.5 billion Coastal Road tunnel leak, please be patient the $4.5 Billion Mumbai Metro3 line will be opening soon.”

Another user wrote: “Coastal Road underground tunnel has developed leakage? Spirit of Mumbai is rushing in with plumbing gear. Don’t worry guys, it’s the world’s longest or largest something.”

India’s first undersea tunnel

The tunnel where the seepage has been witnessed is part of the Dharamveer Swaraj Rakshak Chhatrapati Shambaji Coastal Road, also known as the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, first envisioned in 1967.

Built at the cost of Rs 13,983 crore (US$1.6 billion), the project aims to reduce travel time between Worli and Nariman Point in south Mumbai. The twin tunnels with a diameter of 12.19 metres and 2.07 km length, only one side of which is currently open, run 17 to 20 meters below sea level.

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Since being inaugurated on March 11 by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his Deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, more than 7 lakh vehicles have travelled on it so far. The second phase of the project —from Marine Drive to Worli — will be inaugurated on 10 June.

The coastal road cuts down the 45-minute commute from Girgaon to Worli to just 10 minutes. Officials had also stated that it would lead to a reduction in the carbon footprint by almost 34 per cent.