Mumbai Coastal Road Fire: BMC Shares 12-Point Safety Advisory, Tunnel Facilities for Commuters

Following a vehicle fire inside the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road (South) Tunnel that sparked panic among commuters, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday, July 16, issued a comprehensive safety advisory for motorists travelling through the tunnel.

The advisory aims to improve commuter safety and ensure an orderly response during emergencies. It comes a day after an SUV caught fire inside the northbound tunnel around noon on Wednesday, July 15, forcing authorities to temporarily close the route and causing major traffic congestion.

Although firefighters brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes, dense smoke quickly filled the tunnel, prompting several motorists to abandon their vehicles and rush towards the exit. Many later described the experience on social media as one of the most terrifying moments they had faced while driving.

BMC's Emergency Guidelines for Motorists

To help commuters respond safely during any emergency inside the tunnel, the BMC has released a 12-point safety protocol and shared details of the tunnel's emergency infrastructure on its official social media platforms.

• Stop their vehicle safely and switch off the engine.
• Leave the keys inside the vehicle.
• Avoid making U-turns or reversing inside the tunnel.
• Use the Emergency Telephone System available every 100 metres to report the incident.
• Stay calm and carefully listen to announcements made through the Public Address System.
• Use the fire extinguishers installed inside the tunnel if it is safe to do so.
• Follow the directional arrows on the tunnel walls to reach the nearest Cross Passage, provided at every 300 metres for emergency evacuation.
• Open the cross-passage door using the panic button and move safely into adjacent tunnel.
• Walk towards the designated exit in an orderly manner and proceed to the safe location.
• Wait for instructions from Control team, Rescue team and emergency response personnel.
• Avoid returning to the incident site or attempting to retrieve personal belongings. Always follow tunnel signage and the instructions of emergency responders.
• Stay calm and avoid panic.
• On complete restoration of the tunnel and normalization of traffic flow, the Public Address System will inform you to take out the vehicles from the tunnels.

The civic body has clarified that once the emergency is resolved and traffic movement is restored, announcements through the Public Address System will inform motorists when it is safe to return to their vehicles and continue their journey.

Tunnel safety facilities

• 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

🛣️Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appeals to all motorists travelling through the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road (South) Tunnel to stay alert and follow the prescribed safety instructions.#MyBMCUpdates #MFB@MumbaiPolice @MTPHereToHelp pic.twitter.com/vDffzJNqLj

— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) July 16, 2026

Appeal for Responsible Driving

The BMC has urged motorists using the Coastal Road tunnel to drive responsibly, adhere to speed limits, maintain lane discipline and cooperate fully with emergency personnel whenever required.

According to the civic body, following these safety measures can significantly reduce risks, help emergency teams respond more efficiently and ensure the safety of all road users during unforeseen situations.

Emergency Helpline

In case of an emergency inside the tunnel, commuters can contact the tunnel's 24x7 control room at 7738989116 or dial 101 to reach the Fire Brigade.