The Mumbai Traffic Police has announced a temporary closure of the Coastal Road during the early hours of May 14 and May 15, 2026, to conduct testing of emergency response systems installed along the corridor. According to an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Traffic, the road will remain inaccessible from 1 am to 6 am on both days. Officials stated that the decision was taken to ensure commuter safety and prevent traffic congestion while technical assessments are carried out. Motorists have been advised to cooperate with traffic personnel and use alternative routes during the scheduled closure period to avoid inconvenience and delays.
Traffic suspended from 1:00 AM to 6:00 AM on both nights (May 14–15 and May 15–16)
For May 14, northbound traffic on the Coastal Road will be diverted through several alternate routes between 1 am and 6 am. Vehicles will move via Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, B. D. Somani Junction, Princess Street Bridge, Bal Bhavan, and Mafatlal Junction before entering routes under the D.B. Marg Traffic Division. Traffic will then continue through Vinoli Chowpatty and Bandra Band Stand, with vehicles redirected through designated junctions to reconnect with the Coastal Road near Amarson Junction. Traffic officials have appealed to motorists to follow diversion signs carefully and expect temporary delays as movement will be regulated during the testing exercise.
On May 15, southbound traffic along the Coastal Road will remain shut during the same six-hour period for the continuation of emergency system trials. Vehicles travelling towards South Mumbai will be diverted from Amarson Junction towards Stephen Church and Kemps Corner before being routed through roads managed by the D.B. Marg Traffic Division. The diversion plan will further guide motorists through Vinoli Chowpatty before they proceed to their respective destinations. Authorities stated that the temporary restrictions are necessary to complete the safety evaluation process smoothly. Traffic police teams will remain deployed at key junctions to manage vehicle flow and assist commuters throughout the diversion period.
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Parking at Mahalaxmi Racecourse
Meanwhile, a group of 102 architects and urban planners from Mumbai has strongly objected to the proposed underground parking facility planned at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The project forms part of the Maharashtra government’s ambitious proposal to develop a 300-acre public park, which includes the existing racecourse area and additional land reclaimed from the Coastal Road project. The Mumbai Architects Collective has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, urging immediate intervention. The group warned that the redevelopment could create severe environmental and urban planning consequences for the city in the future.
The architects clarified that they are not against improving public access or creating open recreational spaces in Mumbai. However, they argued that constructing underground complexes beneath one of the city’s largest natural flood-absorbing grounds could prove harmful. In their letter, the group described the redevelopment as more than just a garden project, claiming it carries substantial environmental, commercial, and financial implications. The collective emphasised that Mahalaxmi Racecourse plays an important ecological role in absorbing rainwater during the monsoon season. They cautioned that disturbing the natural terrain with large-scale underground infrastructure may increase flood risks and negatively impact Mumbai’s fragile urban ecosystem.