MUMBAI: More than 80000 challans were issued for traffic violations on the Coastal Road in one year, between Sept 2025 and 2026, with penalties issued up to Rs 11 crore, information obtained through RTI shows. Of these, over 30000 challans pertained to speeding.
The BMW crash last month brought speeding on the Coastal Road into focus. Three students, including a minor, were killed and another student was injured after a BMW crashed into a Coastal Road barrier at high speed and fell about 75 metres into an under-construction site near Lotus Jetty, Worli. CCTV footage had showed the car speeding before plunging from the second level ramp, a height of about 70 feet.
In response to an RTI query, traffic police said that 29,727 light motor vehicles (cars, vans, jeeps etc.) were issued challans between Sept 2025 and 2026. Fines upto Rs 5.9 crore were issued. Though two and three-wheeler riders, medium and heavy motor vehicle drivers are prohibited from using the Coastal Road, they have got challans for speeding. Besides this, over 50000 challans were issued to vehicles that did not follow traffic signs.
“Despite police patrolling, luxury cars can be seen driving at high speeds late into the night and early morning,” said Breach Candy resident Nigum Lakhani. He pointed out that speeding is more frequent in the stretch between the tunnel exit and Haji Ali, as thereafter, the Coastal Road has more curves. “Some of the motorists use modified mufflers, creating considerable noise. It leaves senior citizens terrified,” said Lakhani. He observed that monetary fines are perhaps not deterrent enough for owners of high-end vehicles. “For repeat offenders, the punishment has to be more serious like suspension of driving licenses,” he said.
Repeated theft and cutting of cables along the Coastal Road have resulted in knocking out 60 to 65 surveillance cameras, besides leaving several stretches in darkness. “We have complained to the authorities after one of our residents saw people removing and carrying away cables near Markandeshwar,” said Viren Shah, chairman of Worli ALM. The BMC is working on replacing the cables.
