BKC-Chunabhatti flyover to be open for public use from November 9: MMRDA
The flyover, which stretches from Somaiya Grounds on EEH to G-Block near MMRDA building in BKC, will ease congestion at Dharavi and Kalanagar junctions (Main Picture Courtesy: Sanjay K. Kher)
After several delays, the 1.6 kilometre-long Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC)-Chunabhatti flyover is expected to be ready for public use form next Wednesday, November 9.
The corridor starts from Somaiya Grounds on Eastern Express Highway before the Sion flyover and ends at G Block near MMRDA building in BKC.
The vehicle owners using this four-lane flyover to reach the BKC or the Eastern Express Highway will save about 30 minutes.
Motorists travelling on the Dharavi and Kalanagar junctions too will face fewer traffic snarls, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said in a statement.
As of now, work on the construction of dividers, installation of sound barriers and safety iron mesh net on Rail Over Bridge (ROB) and lane marking is in progress.
“Also, erection of heavy vehicle stoppers, direction indicators, changing spots for Bus stops and necessary civil work facilitating traffic dispersal are few of the activities that are in the final stage,” the statement said.
1.6 किमी लांबीचा बीकेसी-चुनाभट्टी कनेक्टर 9 नोव्हेंबर 2019 पासून प्रवाशांसाठी सज्ज होईल!
हा उड्डाणपूल धारावी आणि कलानगर जवळ असणाऱ्या आसपासच्या वेगवेगळ्या जंक्शनवरील ट्रॅफिक कमी करेल आणि प्रवासाची वेळ त्वरेने वाचवेल pic.twitter.com/AZBX0fmKHO— MMRDA (@MMRDAOfficial) November 1, 2019
Considering the number of vehicles entering BKC using the flyover, MMRDA in coordination with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is installing five signals, developing two junctions and installing indicators in the complex. All the work is in the final stage.
The flyover’s construction, like several other infrastructure projects in the city, was marred with delays.
It was initially expected to be ready by December 2018. However, after several delays, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a revised deadline of March 2019.
A few design changes led to additional delays, and since the contractor could not lay asphalt during monsoon, the deadline was changed to September-October 2019.
Later, the corridor was expected to be thrown open for public use on September 7, before the Model Code of Conduct for the recently concluded polls came into effect. But, MMRDA officers claimed that the inauguration was delayed because of the rains.
Meanwhile, NCP state chief Nawab Malik, who held a massive protest on October 27 to demand the flyover’s opening, alleged that MMRDA had stalled the inauguration as it was waiting for CM Devendra Fadnavis to open it.
