After much deliberation, the BMC has decided to extend the Mrinal Gore flyover in Goregaon till Link Road. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta had earlier questioned the need for the extension, citing possible traffic congestion on SV Road. The extension, estimated to cost ₹160 crore, will make it possible for motorists to bypass three traffic signals.
The existing 2.3-km flyover connecting Goregaon East and West was completed by the BMC in 2016 after much delay at a cost of ₹250 crore. It was commissioned into use with much fanfare by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The civic body had planned the flyover till New Link Road, and ₹80 crore had been set aside for additional piers and more slab width. During a site visit in February 2017, Mr. Mehta instructed Zonal Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kiran Achrekar to submit a feasibility report, after the latter raised objections.
Mr. Achrekar’s report, dated April 5, rejected the need for the flyover’s extension, claiming the additional piers would hinder traffic on SV Road. Based on this report, Mr. Mehta halted the project.
Corporators differ
Local corporators and politicians, however, insisted on finding a solution. Accordingly, the piers on SV Road will be 7.5 metres wide, instead of the originally proposed nine metres, to counter the traffic congestion projected by the report. Sandip Patel, the BJP corporator from Goregaon, said, “We conducted joint visits with all officials and the Municipal Commissioner. We appealed to them that the project will benefit thousands of motorists. By the time the project is completed in 2020, the number of motorists will only increase.”
The extension will be up to Relief Road in Goregaon (West), from where motorists can reach Link Road. It will connect Western Express Highway (WEH) to Link Road bypassing three major traffic signals: the junctions of SV Road with Relief Road, Siddharth Nagar Road and the stretch from WEH and Ram Mandir Road.
An official with the BMC Bridges Department said, “We will be inviting bids next month. The proposal should be tabled before the standing committee by July, and work can start after the monsoon.”
