MUMBAI: In the wake of Wednesday’s car fire inside the northbound tunnel of the Mumbai Coastal Road, the BMC has reiterated the emergency safety protocol that motorists must follow in the event of an incident inside the tunnel. The civic body said the tunnel is equipped with multiple safety systems, including emergency telephones, a public address system, fire extinguishers, and emergency cross passages to facilitate safe evacuation during emergencies.
Under the protocol, motorists are advised to stop their vehicles safely, switch off the engine, and leave the keys inside before evacuating. Drivers have been specifically instructed not to attempt a U-turn or reverse their vehicles inside the tunnel, as doing so could obstruct emergency response operations and endanger other commuters. In case of an emergency, motorists can use the Emergency Telephone System (ETS), installed at intervals of 100 metres, to contact the tunnel control room. Authorities have also urged commuters to remain calm and listen carefully to announcements made through the tunnel’s Public Address System (PAS), which provides real-time instructions during emergencies. Fire extinguishers have been installed throughout the tunnel and may be used only if it is safe to do so. For evacuation, commuters are advised to follow directional arrows on the tunnel walls to the nearest cross passage, located every 300 metres. The doors can be opened using panic bars, allowing people to move into the adjacent tunnel and proceed towards a safe exit. The advisory also instructs evacuees to walk along the right-side wall towards the exit, await directions from the control room and rescue teams, and refrain from returning to the incident site or attempting to retrieve personal belongings. Officials said that once the emergency has been resolved and traffic movement is restored, the Public Address System will announce when motorists can return to their vehicles and exit the tunnel.
