Will Mumbai’s US$6.9 billion roads plan fix gridlock in India’s finance hub?

The ambitious “Mumbai in Minutes” initiative promises faster commutes, but experts warn of land acquisition and environmental hurdles

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Construction work on a coastal road in Mumbai, India, in March. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 1 Oct 2024

India’s financial capital Mumbai is embarking on a multibillion-dollar infrastructure revamp aimed at alleviating its notorious traffic congestion. But analysts warn of hurdles such as land acquisition and environmental regulations that could derail the project and its ambitious timeline.

Dubbed “Mumbai in Minutes”, the plan launched by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority seeks to slash travel times across the city by constructing coastal roads, flyovers, bridges and underwater tunnels, with the goal of easing gridlock by 2029.

The authority is “targeting travel times of under an hour across the city” according to Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, who said most new roads would be tolled to aid in effective traffic management.

Commutes across Mumbai currently vary but can take several hours, depending on the time of day and mode of transport.

With more than 21 million residents, Mumbai is a vital economic engine for India, contributing an estimated 5 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product. It is home to numerous corporate headquarters and also serves as the nation’s entertainment hub thanks to its long-standing association with the Bollywood film industry.

A local train passes over a street in Mumbai. Critics say the heavy focus on road expansion sidelines other forms of transport. Photo: Getty Images

Yet Mumbai’s infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with rapid urbanisation, necessitating significant upgrades and ongoing maintenance.