Mumbai Noise Pollution: Authorities Launch Drive Against Racing and Loud Vehicles on Coastal Road

Mumbai authorities launched a special drive on Thursday to curb racing and vehicular noise pollution on the newly opened coastal road, officials said. The action follows the recent death of a 19-year-old college student, who lost her life when a car driven by her friend overturned on the coastal road in south Mumbai on February 8.

Last month, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) had suspended the licences of two men for three months and seized their vehicles for allegedly engaging in racing on the stretch.

During the race, one of the cars crashed into the sidewall of a tunnel on the road, and the driver abandoned the vehicle before fleeing, resulting in a traffic jam. Additionally, residents living near the coastal road have reported an increase in complaints about noise pollution from vehicles.

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The 10-km, six-lane coastal road between Marine Drive and Worli, opened in phases since March 12, 2024, has seen over 50 lakh vehicles, with a daily average of 18,000 to 20,000, as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. In response, the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department and Mumbai Traffic Police have launched a joint drive to tackle illegal racing and noise pollution on the stretch.

"We will seize illegal aftermarket silencers and strictly enforce anti-honking zones, penalising violators under relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act," Joint Transport Commissioner (Enforcement) Ravi Gaikwad said.