Speeding car crashes at Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel, traffic movement affected
A speeding car lost control and crashed inside Mumbai’s Coastal Road tunnel, leaving 3 people injured and disrupting traffic for over 2 hours. Emergency teams rushed to the scene as authorities worked to clear the wreckage and restore normal movement along the newly opened stretch.
A speeding car on Monday night crashed at the Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel after which the traffic movement was slightly affected, officials said.
A red SUV crashed into a wall inside the newly opened Coastal Road tunnel near Worli.
The incident occurred at around 9 pm when the SUV, moving towards Worli, lost control and slammed into the right-side tunnel wall.
The crash took place within the jurisdiction of D. B. Marg Police Station.
The Mumbai Traffic Police said that by 10 pm the damaged vehicle had been towed out of the tunnel and that traffic movement was restored.
The officials said that they are still verifying about possible injuries in the incident and a probe was underway.
A high-speed collision inside Mumbai’s newly opened Coastal Road tunnel on Monday morning caused major traffic disruption and left three people injured, triggering fresh concerns about road safety and overspeeding on the city’s most ambitious infrastructure project. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m., during the morning rush hour, when a car reportedly lost control and crashed into the tunnel wall near the Marine Drive exit.
According to preliminary reports, the speeding vehicle — a white sedan — was traveling at nearly 100 kmph, far above the permitted speed limit of 60 kmph inside the tunnel. Eyewitnesses said the driver appeared to lose control while overtaking another vehicle. The car spun several times before slamming into the concrete divider, causing severe damage to the front and side portions of the vehicle.
The Mumbai Traffic Police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) emergency response units immediately rushed to the spot. The injured occupants, including the driver and two passengers, were quickly rescued from the wreckage and taken to Nair Hospital for treatment. Doctors later confirmed that all three suffered non-fatal injuries, though one individual sustained a fractured arm.
The crash led to a two-hour traffic standstill inside the tunnel, affecting hundreds of commuters traveling toward Worli and Marine Drive. Police temporarily closed both lanes to facilitate towing operations and debris clearance. Long queues of vehicles were reported outside the tunnel entrances, with delays extending up to three kilometers on connecting roads.
An official from the Mumbai Traffic Control Room said, “Our teams acted swiftly to manage the situation. Both injured passengers were rescued safely, and the damaged vehicle was removed by 10:30 a.m. Normal traffic flow resumed shortly after.”
Following the incident, the Mumbai Police reiterated warnings about strict enforcement of speed limits along the Coastal Road. “This stretch is designed for smooth flow, not racing,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic). “We will increase patrolling and deploy speed cameras to deter reckless driving.”
The Coastal Road, which recently opened partially to the public, has quickly become one of Mumbai’s most scenic yet sensitive stretches. However, officials have repeatedly cautioned motorists against overspeeding, sudden lane changes, and mobile phone usage while driving, especially inside tunnels where visibility and control can be reduced.
Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, showing the heavily damaged car and emergency vehicles at the site. Many users expressed concern over the growing number of accidents since the Coastal Road opened to public use, urging authorities to implement speed-monitoring systems and stricter penalties.
“People are treating this road like a racetrack,” commented one user on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s high time police start cracking down on violators before another tragedy strikes.”
The Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) is a landmark infrastructure initiative connecting Marine Drive to Worli, aimed at reducing travel time by up to 70%. However, since its phased opening, multiple minor accidents have been reported — mostly due to overspeeding and driver negligence.
Urban planners have urged the BMC to install speed sensors, reflective warning signs, and crash barriers at critical points within the tunnel. “Driver behavior plays a big role in such incidents,” said transport expert Vivek Kamat. “Strict enforcement and awareness campaigns are vital to prevent repeat occurrences.”
