Flyover to be opened by November 9

Mumbai: The BKC-Chunabhatti flyover will be opened for public use by November 9, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said on Friday.

According to sources within the MMRDA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may come to inaugurate the flyover but there is no official confirmation on this so far.

The four-lane flyover is expected to reduce traffic snarls at the Dharavi and Kalanagar junctions. The flyover will also help commuters reach Bandra-Kurla Complex and the Western Express Highway in just 30 minutes.

Despite being ready for some time now, the flyover has not been inaugurated due to several factors, including the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct.

The delay in inaugurating the completed project led to the Nationalist Congress party (NCP) threatening to forcibly ‘open’ the flyover to the public. However, after written assurances by MMRDA officials, NCP withdrew its agitation.

According to the MMRDA spokesperson Dilip Kavathkar, “A lot of time was spent for getting permissions for railway and vehicular traffic. Long monsoon, too, led to several delays in the work,” said Kavathkar.

The project, launched by the MMRDA in the year 2015, missed multiple deadlines for completion in the past.

The four flyover is 1.6 km-long and 17 meter wide. As of now, the installation of sound barriers and iron wire mesh on the Rail Over Bridge and lane marking is in progress.

According to sources, the sound barriers will be installed to avoid people from jumping the flyover as Mithi River passes below the bridge.