Day after fire in car, BMC issues safety advisory for Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel users; check complete details here

A moving car caught fire inside the Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel on Wednesday afternoon. Pic/videograb

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a safety advisory for motorists using the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road (South) Tunnel, urging commuters to remain alert and strictly follow emergency procedures while travelling through the tunnel.

The advisory is aimed at ensuring the safety of all road users and enabling a quick and organised response during any emergency inside the tunnel.

It comes after the motorists were gripped with panic after a car broke out in flames inside the tunnel at around noon on Wednesday.

The BMC has outlined the following steps to be followed in the event of an emergency inside the tunnel:

- Motorists should safely stop their vehicle and switch off the engine immediately.

- Drivers should leave the ignition key inside the vehicle, exit immediately and begin evacuation.

- Motorists must not attempt a U-turn or reverse their vehicle inside the tunnel, as this can obstruct emergency response operations and endanger other road users.

- Emergency telephones have been installed every 100 metres throughout the tunnel. Motorists should use these phones to contact the Control Room and report the emergency.

- The BMC has advised motorists to remain calm and carefully listen to announcements made through the Public Address System, which will provide instructions during an emergency.

- Fire extinguishers are available throughout the tunnel and may be used only if it is safe to do so.

- Directional arrows installed along the tunnel walls guide motorists and pedestrians to the nearest cross passage, located every 300 metres, for emergency evacuation.

- During an evacuation, commuters should open the cross-passage door using the panic bar and move safely into the adjacent tunnel.

- People should walk along the right-hand side wall towards the exit and proceed to a safe location.

- Motorists should wait for further instructions from the Control Room, Rescue Team and Emergency Response Personnel.

The BMC has urged commuters not to run, return to the incident location or attempt to retrieve personal belongings. Instead, they should follow tunnel signage and the directions of emergency responders.

It stated that once the emergency has been resolved and traffic conditions have returned to normal, the Public Address System will inform motorists when it is safe to return to their vehicles and resume their journey.

Tunnel safety facilities

The BMC highlighted that the tunnel is equipped with several advanced safety features, including:

- Emergency Telephone System (ETS) every 100 metres

- Cross passages every 300 metres

- Fire extinguishers throughout the tunnel

- Public Address System (PAS)

- 24x7 CCTV surveillance

- 24x7 Control Room monitoring

Emergency contact numbers

In case of an emergency, motorists can contact:

- BMC Coastal Road Tunnel Control Room (24x7): 7738989116

- Mumbai Fire Brigade: 101

Civic appeal to motorists

The BMC has appealed to all motorists using the Mumbai Coastal Road Tunnel to drive responsibly, maintain lane discipline, follow speed limits and cooperate with emergency personnel whenever required.

The civic body emphasised that following safety instructions can help save lives and ensure the smooth functioning of the tunnel during emergencies.