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Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated a set of infrastructure projects aimed at improving road and public transport connectivity across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The projects include the final BKC-Vakola arm of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road Phase-2, Chembur Metro station on Metro Line 2B and the second tunnel boring machine for the Thane-Borivali twin-tunnel road project. The state government also highlighted the planned procurement of 238 air-conditioned suburban train rakes and the expansion of Mumbai’s Metro network as part of efforts to improve mobility and support the city’s growing passenger demand.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated several infrastructure projects in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region through a video link from Sahyadri Guest House in south Mumbai, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and other officials.
The projects included the final BKC-Vakola arm of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) Phase-2, the Chembur Metro station on Metro Line 2B and the launch of Arjuna, the second tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Thane-Borivali twin-tunnel road project.
The 1.4-km elevated BKC-Vakola corridor runs between Bharat Nagar Road and Vakola Junction and provides direct connectivity between the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and the Western Express Highway (WEH). The corridor is expected to reduce travel time by around 35 minutes and ease traffic pressure in Kalina, Vakola and Kalanagar.
Shri Devendra Fadnavis said six connectivity links had originally been planned in 2017-18 to reduce congestion around BKC. The plan was later expanded to eight links, with the latest inauguration completing the final connection.
Shri Devendra Fadnavis, however, pointed out that additional measures would be required to maintain smooth traffic movement and prevent congestion on the Western Express Highway once traffic from the new corridor increases.
The newly inaugurated Chembur Metro station on Metro Line 2B, which runs between DN Nagar and Mandale, will connect with the Chembur suburban railway station and the Monorail network. The interchange is expected to strengthen multimodal connectivity in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs by allowing commuters to shift between different public transport systems.
Shri Devendra Fadnavis said around 60-70 km of Metro routes were expected to become operational during the year. He noted that Mumbai’s suburban railway network currently serves around nine million passengers, while the Metro network is being developed to cater to nearly seven million passengers.
The expansion of Metro connectivity is taking place alongside upgrades to the suburban railway system. The Union government has approved the procurement of 238 new air-conditioned suburban train rakes under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). The first batch is expected to enter service in 2027, with the entire suburban fleet targeted for conversion to Metro-like trains by March 2030.
The new trains are planned to feature automatic doors, air-conditioning and improved cleanliness. Shri Devendra Fadnavis said the objective was to provide Mumbai commuters with a modern, Metro-like suburban rail system.
The state government also launched Arjuna, the second TBM for the Thane-Borivali twin-tunnel road project. The first machine, Nayak, was launched in April and has already begun excavation work from the Thane side.
The twin tunnels are being constructed beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park and will create a direct road connection between Thane and Borivali. The 23-km road route will effectively be reduced to around 11 km, with travel time expected to come down from around 60-90 minutes to approximately 12-15 minutes once the project is completed.
With both TBMs now being deployed from their respective sides, tunnelling work will proceed simultaneously, which Shri Devendra Fadnavis said would help accelerate the project.
The flyover connecting G Block of BKC with the Eastern Express Highway has also been named after former Maharashtra Chief Minister Barrister Babasaheb Anantrao Bhosale.
Shri Devendra Fadnavis said people who contributed to Maharashtra’s development should continue to be remembered. The naming was announced alongside the infrastructure projects inaugurated in Mumbai and the region.
Source PTI
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