BMC plans to extend flyover to connect Link Road with WEH

MUMBAI: To decongest traffic around Borivli station area, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to propose an extension of the under-construction 970-metre flyover between Link Road and SV Road in Borivli up to Western Express Highway (WEH). BMC maintains that the 860-metre extension will decongest the Kora Kendra Junction that handles thousands of vehicular traffic daily.

Currently, a 970-metre flyover is being constructed between Kora Kendra Junction on SV Road and Link Road. However, BMC plans an extension up to WEH to decongest the arterial roads of Borivli.

According to the plan, motorists coming from Link Road will now be able to skip Kora Kendra Junction on SV Road as they will directly be able to head to WEH

via a set of two flyovers. Due to this, the construction cost is expected to shoot up from around ₹160 crore to over ₹650 crore. BMC said the escalation in cost is not only due to extension, but also considering that guidelines for load-bearing have been changed, mandating additional safety measures to be taken.

AV Shenoy from Mumbai Mobility Forum said, “The extension will be worth it to reduce vehicular traffic. However,

if the extension does not help motorists skip the SV Road junction, the project will just mean diverting the congestion from one place to another.”

However, corporators from the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have questioned the manner in which the process is being followed. BJP corporator Bhalchandra Shirsat said, “We are not against development, but the proper process should be followed. BMC could have floated separate tenders for the work. We expect BMC to come out clean on this.” Vinod Mishra, corporator and party leader of BJP in BMC said, “I am going to write to BMC that proper process should be followed.” Ravi Raja, leader of Opposition and Congress corporator, said, “Proper process should be followed. BMC has given insufficient information to the standing committee for approval of the variation.”