The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an INR 918 crore tender to construct two flyovers connecting Ghatkopar, Mankhurd, and Vashi to ease traffic. One flyover will extend from the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) towards Vashi, while the other will connect the Sion-Panvel highway to GMLR. Concerns have arisen over the flyovers' alignment with the ongoing Metro Line 8 project. The flyovers aim to reduce congestion and improve connectivity in key Mumbai areas.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a tender worth INR 918 crore for the construction of two new flyovers aimed at improving traffic flow between Ghatkopar, Mankhurd, and Vashi. The first flyover will extend from the existing Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) flyover towards Vashi, while the second will connect the Sion-Panvel highway to the GMLR flyover. These new flyovers are expected to ease traffic congestion, particularly for vehicles moving from Vashi towards Ghatkopar and vice versa.
The decision to construct these flyovers comes three years after the completion of the 2.9-kilometre GMLR, which was built at a cost of INR 580 crore. The Ghatkopar-Mankhurd junction is a critical road connecting the Sion-Panvel highway with the Eastern Express Highway. According to the proposal, the first flyover arm from GMLR towards Vashi will consist of two lanes, stretching a total length of 1,473 metres and having a width of 8.5 metres in some sections and 6.5 metres in others. It will have 38 spans, each measuring between 20 to 40 metres. The second flyover arm, running from Vashi to GMLR, will also be two lanes, with a length of 1,930 metres and a width of 8.5 metres. This arm will feature 69 spans, ranging from 17 to 50 metres.
However, there has been concern over the alignment of the new flyovers, particularly with regard to the ongoing Metro Line 8 project. On August 12, 2024, CIDCO, in a letter to the BMC, requested that the alignment be reconsidered to accommodate the Metro line. The letter stated that discussions had taken place regarding the alignment of Metro Line 8 with various stakeholders, including the BMC, and it was agreed that a Metro station would be included at the proposed ISBT station at the old Octroi Naka in Mankhurd. However, it was noted that the BMC's proposed bridge near Maharashtra Nagar would interfere with this Metro alignment.
Additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar acknowledged the issue raised by CIDCO and confirmed that the BMC would work towards finding a solution. He explained that the decision to build a flyover in the area was driven by the high levels of congestion and the need to bypass a traffic signal. Bangar also mentioned that a third arm of the flyover, extending towards Maharashtra Nagar, had been proposed, but its feasibility is still under review. The project has faced criticism from some quarters.
In the face of these challenges, the BMC continues to push forward with its infrastructure development plans, aiming to address the city's growing traffic and urban planning needs. The flyovers, if successfully constructed, will play a key role in easing congestion and improving connectivity between key areas of Mumbai. Looking ahead, the BMC's efforts to balance large-scale infrastructure projects like these with the city's ongoing urban development will be critical. The need to align projects with existing plans such as Metro Line 8, while ensuring that funding is available and well-managed, will be essential for the success of these initiatives. The next steps, including finalising alignments and ensuring proper coordination with other stakeholders, will determine how effectively the city can meet its infrastructure demands while staying on course with its long-term development goals.
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