Mumbai Coastal Road North to Get Second Helipad at Charkop Site
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expanding its aerial infrastructure by planning a second helipad along the Mumbai Coastal Road North, with a proposed site at Charkop in Kandivli. This initiative draws inspiration from the already planned helipad on the Mumbai Coastal Road South, aiming to enhance emergency response and connectivity across the city.
Strategic Location and Development Plan
Civic officials have confirmed that the helipad for the Mumbai Coastal Road North will mirror the design and functionality of its southern counterpart. The chosen location is a land parcel currently utilized for tunnel construction and ancillary works at Charkop. Once tunneling activities conclude, this space will be transformed into a fully operational helipad.
Approximately 5,000 square metres of land is deemed sufficient for the facility. The helipad is slated to be situated at the starting point of a planned tunnel that will connect Charkop to Malad's Mindspace business district. Before finalizing the site, preliminary assessments will be conducted, including checks for high-tension wires in the vicinity to ensure safety and compliance.
Emergency Services and Political Advocacy
A BMC official highlighted that the civic body is exploring the use of this helipad for critical emergency services, such as air ambulances. This could significantly improve response times, enabling faster transport to hospitals in both the suburbs and south Mumbai, thereby saving lives in urgent medical situations.
This development follows advocacy from local politicians. In February of this year, during a meeting with the civic commissioner, Borivli MLA Sanjay Upadhyay of the BJP demanded the inclusion of a helipad along the Mumbai Coastal Road North. This contrasts with the Mumbai Coastal Road South, where the helipad plan was introduced later, after road works were nearly complete. In March 2025, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis first proposed a helipad along the Worli temporary jetty, opposite Worli Dairy, as part of the coastal road project.
Project Details and Historical Context
The Mumbai Coastal Road North project stretches from Versova to Bhayander and includes an elevated GMLR connector from the Mindspace Malad Junction. This connector will link the southern tip and western suburbs of Mumbai to Mulund and Thane, traversing diverse terrains such as mangroves and creek areas, and featuring underground tunnels and bridges.
Regarding the southern helipad, a civic official explained that the decision emerged from available space. "There were two jetties, one near Amarsons Garden that was dismantled and another at Worli. The Worli jetty was not proposed to be dismantled as coastal police had sought some space for surveillance. It was then decided that this area was large enough to allow helicopter landing," the official stated.
This expansion underscores BMC's commitment to integrating advanced infrastructure into urban development, potentially setting a precedent for future projects in Mumbai and beyond.
