Mumbai
Where Two-Wheelers Are Banned in Mumbai: Roads a Rented Bike Cannot Use
Two-wheelers are barred from the Sea Link, Coastal Road, Atal Setu, Eastern Freeway and Expressway. See the source for each ban and the legal way round.
By CarBikeRent Editorial Team. Published 4 Nov 2026. Updated 4 Nov 2026. Read our editorial standards.
Quick answer
A rented bike or scooter cannot use the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the Coastal Road, Atal Setu, the Eastern Freeway or the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. A Mumbai Traffic Police order of 25 August 2026 covers the Sea Link and Coastal Road, and MMRDA states the Atal Setu rule. The other bans rest on press reports and roadside signs. Each one has a legal surface route, and a rental gets you no exemption.
The roads and the legal way round each one
The rules apply to all two-wheelers, from a moped to a Harley, whether rented or owned. The alternatives below are ordinary city roads, so allow far more time than the fast link would take.
| Road | Rule for two-wheelers | Evidence | Legal alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandra-Worli Sea Link | Banned | Traffic police order, August 2026 | Mahim Causeway, then surface roads through Dadar and Prabhadevi to Worli |
| Coastal Road (Marine Drive to Bandra link) | Banned | Traffic police order, August 2026 | Surface roads through Worli, Haji Ali and Pedder Road |
| Atal Setu (Sewri to Nhava Sheva) | Banned | MMRDA FAQ, 2024 | Sion-Panvel Highway over the Vashi Creek Bridge |
| Eastern Freeway | Banned | Press reports, latest August 2026 | Eastern Express Highway to Sion, then surface roads south |
| Mumbai-Pune Expressway, including the Missing Link | Banned | Press reports; traffic notification for the Missing Link | Old Mumbai-Pune highway (NH 48) |
| JJ Flyover | Banned from 2010; check signs | 2010 court report; no recent notice found | The road under the flyover |
| BKC-Chunabhatti connector | Barred at opening; check signs | Report from opening; later report on signage | Surface roads through Kurla and Sion |
How solid is each ban?
Many pages repeat this list with no source. Here is what the evidence for each one actually is, which also shows you where to be most careful.
Sea Link and Coastal Road: an official order
Notification No. 187 was issued on 25 August 2026 by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) under section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act. It replaces earlier temporary orders with one permanent one for both roads. It lists all types of two-wheelers, cycles, mopeds, adapted vehicles and scooters, including scooters with a side car, among the vehicles restricted from entry, along with three-wheelers and pedestrians. It remains in force until further orders.
The same order also prohibits stopping, picking up or dropping passengers, and taking photos or video on these roads. That applies to anyone in a car too, so a rented car on the Coastal Road is no excuse for a roadside photo.
Atal Setu: the operator's own statement
MMRDA's published FAQ says cycles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and animal carts are not allowed on the bridge. Police registered an FIR in July 2026 after a video showed a motorcycle on it.
Eastern Freeway and the Expressway: reported, not read
No official order for either road could be found to check. The Free Press Journal stated in August 2026 that two-wheelers are strictly prohibited on the Eastern Freeway, and reports from 2025 and 2026 say the same of the Expressway. A 2026 traffic notification for the Expressway's Missing Link opened that stretch to light motor vehicles and passenger vehicles. Treat all of these as closed, and obey the signs.
JJ Flyover and the BKC-Chunabhatti connector: older and less certain
The JJ Flyover ban began on 1 April 2010, and the Bombay High Court dismissed challenges to it that month. Reports at the connector's opening said traffic police had barred two-wheelers, with a possible review after a traffic study. A later report said riders still use both because signs are poor, and that some had been fined. No current notice for either could be found, so read the signs at the ramp and stay off if in doubt.
What happens if you ride onto a banned road
Section 115 lets a state or its authorised officer restrict classes of vehicle on a named road, and requires traffic signs to be put up. Where the Act sets no specific penalty, section 177 provides a fine of up to ₹500 for a first offence and up to ₹1,500 for a later one. Which section an officer applies is up to them, and this is general information rather than legal advice.
It can go further than a fine. Police registered an FIR over the Atal Setu ride, and a rider who entered the Expressway and hit a car in 2025 faced charges for rash driving and endangering lives. Whether an insurer would pay for a crash on a road closed to you is a question to put to the provider before you ride.
On a rental there is a second problem. A camera challan attaches to the vehicle number, so it reaches the owner and is then passed to you, often after you have returned the bike. See how a challan on a rental is handled.
Planning a trip that needs one of these roads
Match the trip to the right vehicle rather than hoping for the best at a ramp.
- Bandra to South Mumbai: expect slow surface roads. If you are on a tight schedule, use a train, the metro or a cab, or a car from the Mumbai car listings.
- Navi Mumbai: cross by the Vashi Creek Bridge, and never follow a sign for Atal Setu.
- Lonavala or Pune: use the old highway, and read the Mumbai to Lonavala route notes first.
- Alibaug: the old road goes through Panvel and Pen. Reports from 2020 describe the Ro-Ro ferry from Bhaucha Dhakka to Mandwa carrying two-wheelers, so confirm the current service and ask your provider first.
How to check before you ride
Mumbai Traffic Police publish current orders on their public notice page, which is where the August 2026 order appears. It also lists temporary arrangements for festivals and other events. It is not sorted by road, but it is the best place to see what changed recently.
Set your maps app to two-wheeler mode, but treat its route as a suggestion. The law requires signs, so the sign at the entrance outranks the app. If you see a no-entry sign for two-wheelers, stop before the ramp and reroute, rather than trying your luck for one stretch.
If you find yourself on a banned road by mistake, do not turn round or ride against the traffic. Keep left, take the next legal exit, and rejoin the surface road. Tell the provider if you think a challan may follow, because they would rather hear it from you.
What this means when you choose a rental
Before you rent, look at your route rather than the rate. A base in Andheri or Bandra with local trips suits a bike or a scooty well, because you stay on the roads you are allowed to use. A daily run between the suburbs and South Mumbai does not, and that is often the moment to choose a car instead.
A rental agreement cannot give you permission to use these roads. If a provider says it is fine, the rule has not changed and the fine is still yours.
Frequently asked questions
Are bikes allowed on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link?
No. The traffic police order of 25 August 2026 restricts all types of two-wheelers from entering the Sea Link and the Coastal Road. Use the surface roads through Mahim, Dadar and Prabhadevi instead.
Can a two-wheeler use the Coastal Road at night?
No. The 2026 order says the road is open to vehicles 24 hours a day, but two-wheelers are on the list of vehicles restricted from entry with no time exception. When a two-wheeler was filmed on it in October 2025, traffic police said they had referred the matter to their Tardeo division.
Are electric scooters allowed on these roads?
No. The Coastal Road order covers all types of two-wheelers and scooters and does not exempt electric ones. MMRDA's wording for Atal Setu covers two-wheelers in general.
Can I ride on the Western Express Highway?
It is not on the list above, and the press reports found for this guide name no general ban. Individual flyovers and stretches can have their own signs and temporary orders, so check at each ramp. Reading the public notice page before a long ride also helps.
Will more roads be added to the list?
They may be, since police can restrict a road by notification and new elevated roads are still opening. That is why this page gives the source and date for each rule. Check the notice page, and trust the sign in front of you over any list.
Sources
- Mumbai Traffic Police Notification No. 187/Addl.CP/TRF/Permanent Notif./2026, 25 August 2026 (Coastal Road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link)
- Mumbai Traffic Police public notices (current notifications)
- Free Press Journal, 19 October 2025: two-wheeler filmed on the Coastal Road, referred to Tardeo Traffic Division
- MMRDA: Frequently Asked Questions on Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link), questions 14 and 15
- Free Press Journal, 30 July 2026: FIR over a motorcycle ride on Atal Setu
- Free Press Journal, 15 August 2026: two-wheeler crash on the Eastern Freeway and the ban on two-wheelers
- PuneNow, 13 January 2026: Missing Link questions and answers, including the two-wheeler rule
- PuneNow, 1 April 2025: rider charged after entering the Expressway, where two- and three-wheelers are banned
- Free Press Journal, 29 April 2026: Maharashtra Traffic Police notification on the Missing Link
- DNA, 30 April 2010: Bombay High Court dismisses petitions against the JJ Flyover two-wheeler ban
- Mumbai Live: why two-wheelers are not allowed on the BKC-Chunabhatti flyover
- KnockSense: signage and fines at the BKC connector and JJ Flyover
- Curly Tales, 21 August 2020: Ro-Ro ferry to Alibaug resumes, carrying two-wheelers
- My Yatra Diary, December 2020: M2M Ferries from Bhaucha Dhakka to Mandwa, including bikes
- Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as amended (Rajasthan Transport Department copy)
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