MMRDA flyovers reduce travel time
Mumbai January 28, 2011 – The traffic scenario in Mumbai has undergone major change in the last calendar year. While the number of vehicles has increased substantially, the congestion too has been eased considerably at many junctions. This is due to persistent efforts on the part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The authority is constructing in all eleven flyovers in the city costing Rs 490 crores. While the seven flyovers at Thakur Complex, Dindoshi, Domestic Airport, Malad Junction, Navghar Junction, Hindamata and Sion Hospital are already serving the city; four at Lalbaug, King’s Circle-Tulpule Chowk (partly opened), Suman Nagar and Burfiwalla Junction are progressing on war-footing.
The daily commuters have observed that the travel time has been reduced considerably. Mr Dilip Kawathkar, Joint Project Director (PR), MMRDA, said, “The flyovers have reduced the number of traffic signals. We have also constructed skywalks and Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) on major roads. The cumulative effect is that the traffic movement has received momentum and the travel time has reduced.”
Sr NoFlyovers completedLength (meter)Cost in (Rs) Crore
1Sion Junction68145
2Hindmata48032
3Thakur Complex64431.78
4Malad Junction45032
5Santacruz71433.85
6Navaghar Junction50512.49
7Dindoshi Junction48013.02
The 72 crore and 1.5 km long King’s Circle–Tulpule Chowk flyover has also been opened partly. The opening of the Northbound arm of the flyover is providing faster traffic movement to hoards of motorists on the all important Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, connecting Southern Mumbai with the Eastern suburbs of the city. “This is the third flyover – after Sion Hospital Junction and Hindamata Junction flyovers – on Dr.Ambedkar Road which will ease motorists’ woes. I am sure; reaching South Mumbai will be a joyride once the Lalbaug Junction flyover too will be ready. The Lalbaug Junction flyover is heading May-2011 completion”, said Mr.Kawathkar. The partly opened King’s Circle flyover is expected to save at least, 20 minutes for the motorists as it enables them avoid two signals and two crossroads.
The Rs 150-crore under construction 2.4 km long Lalbaug flyover will be 17 meters wide providing two Southbound and Northbound lanes each. The Lalbaug flyover is being constructed on a single pier system with the help of launching girder technology. While the single pier system affords more width on the road for traffic below the flyover, the launching girder technology eliminates the use of cranes which not only slows down the traffic but also involves a lot more risk. This technology enables direct lifting of the trailer-transported segments. The two flyovers at Lalbaug and King’s Cirlce Tulpule Chowk, to be commissioned soon, will provide quicker traffic movement on the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, which connects South Mumbai with its Eastern suburbs.
Rs. 25-crore worth and 500 meter long Suman Nagar flyover and the Rs. 42-crore worth and 650 meter long Burfiwalla Junction Flyover both are more than 50 per cent ready and are heading towards completion.
With seven flyovers already opened for traffic and rest of the four to be commissioned by May, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) expects Mumbai to travel in faster gear.
Sr NoFlyovers near completionLength (meter)Cost (Rs) in Crore
1King’s Circle-Tulpule Chawk150079
2Lalbaug2400147
3Burfiwala65042
4Suman Nagar50025
The authority is also constructing 2 Railway Over Bridges – one at Milan Subway and the other at Dahisar. Milan Subway is a low line area and a Rail Over Bridge here is an apparent solution. Since the issue of Resettlement and Rehabilitation has already been resolved, this 800 meters long project is expected to be completed earlier than expected.
The 1040-meter Dahisar Rail Over Bridge has already been completed in record time and thrown open to traffic. Incidentally, MMRDA is the first agency to erect this type of construction in railway property. Never in the past has it happened that any agency, other than the railways, could erect a rail over bridge in railway property, especially in Mumbai region
The Sahar Elevated Road which will take you from the Western Express Highway straight to the International Airport is 60 per cent ready. The 2-km long elevated road is being constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The expenditure for this elevated road is being borne by Government of India, State Government, MMRDA and Mumbai International Airport Company.
“We expect the travel time to reduce even further on completion of few other projects. We have already addressed the crucial part of east-west connectivity. Besides the road projects, once we complete Metro and Mono Rail projects, the pressure on road traffic will be less. Also the skywalks are helping reduce pedestrian movement on roads which too is creating more space on the roads improving the traffic movement”, Mr.Kawathkar concluded.
The New Flyover bridge constructed new the Malad times of india on the western Express highway has added to the traffic jam only, earlier we had lesser traffice jam over here. I would like to know whose has designed this bridge as well as who has done the feasibiity study for the same. Public money should not be used create more Jams, Also now right turn from the highway is not there. If this was to be done, why was the bridge constructed on the first place, you could has just cancelled the signal and saved lots of money. Who will answer my query. Also all the bridges are creating traffic jam on the western express highway, the arrey colony bridge is creating a jam starting from the HUB mall. So painful, can somebody explain.