Flyover, elevated road opened in Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbaikars were rejoicing after two projects designed to tackle congestion and ease commuting — the Kherwadi flyover in Bandra and the extended arm of the Eastern Freeway from Chembur to Ghatkopar — were opened to the public on Monday.

A typical trip to work from the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar to Mumbai South’s Nariman Point used to take anything from one-and-a-half to two hours.

However, a road user can now cover this distance in less than 40 minutes.

Likewise, the south-bound arm of the Kherwadi flyover, while just 580 metres long — is set to ease traffic woes at this junction on the Western Express Highway — an arterial road connecting north and south Mumbai and used by million of people everyday.

The three-lane flyover will also help motorists enjoy a signal-free drive from Dahisar to Worli.

The flyover was completed in 226 days — a record time for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the executing agency for both the projects.

The department will now start work on the overpass’s north-bound wing. However, until this section is completed, commuters will continue to face traffic snarls during peak hours, particularly in the evenings.

Meanwhile, the completion of the 2.8 km Panjarpole-Ghatkopar Link Road (PGLR) also means the completion of the 16.4-km long Eastern Freeway.

The Freeway now provides unhindered connectivity from South Mumbai to eastern suburbs helping motorists avoid traffic congestion at Dadar, Sion, Chembur, Kurla and Mankhurd.

The Eastern Freeway was constructed in three phases — the first part is a 9.3km elevated corridor starting from Orange Gate on P. D’Mello Road and then meeting Anik-Panjarpol Link Road via Mumbai Port Trust land.

The Anik-Panjarpol — the second part that begins in Anik in Wadala and ends at Panjarpol junction at the Shivaji Chowk on the Sion-Panvel Link Road — has five bridges, three underpasses, two tunnels and one footbridge over a 4.3km stretch.

It also includes a four-plus-four lane concretised road that is elevated at some points.

The entirely elevated 3km Panjarpol-Ghatkopar Link Road, which was opened on Monday, starts from Panjarpol junction and culminates at Chembur-Mankhurd Link Road that takes commuters to Ghatkopar.