Eknath Shinde inaugurated Mumbai Coastal Road Phase-2 in a 94-year-old vintage Rolls Royce Excited Mumbaikars gave a broad smile and a big 'thumbs up' as the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road (MCR) was thrown open for motorists - a day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated it with a drive in a 94-year-old vintage Rolls Royce beauty. Scores of vehicles were seen entering the south-north arm of the MCR at Marine Lines and the motorists were pleasantly surprised to complete the commute till Haji Ali junction in barely 8 minutes flat - a far cry from the agonising nearly one hour it took till yesterday. Many motorists raved about the MCR - officially a mouthful, as 'Dharmveer Swarajrakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road' - as their vehicles sped through the new thoroughfare including a tunnel running under the Malabar Hill and emerging at the new interchange at Haji Ali junction, along the Arabian Sea shore.
The remaining part of the project running up to Bandra Worli Sea Link is expected to be completed in a month or so and the entire phase will be fully ready by October affording Mumbaikars huge relief by saving time, fuel, pollution and other benefits. A global marketing consultant Pradeep Menon decided to go on a 'joy-ride' from his Powai home, driving first to Marine Lines (north-south), reversing at Churchgate to enter the newly-inaugurated (south-north) stretch and coming out at Haji Ali. "This was unbelievable.
I could complete the stretch.