The final phase of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road project is nearing completion, with 98 per cent physical work completed on the BKC-Vakola connector, a key missing link in Mumbai’s east-west road network.
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee on Wednesday, 27 May, inspected the BKC-Vakola connector of SCLR Phase 2 along with Additional Metropolitan Commissioner-1 Vikram Kumar, IAS.
During the visit, he reviewed ongoing works and directed contractors, agencies and officials to expedite the remaining work while maintaining construction safety and quality.
“The SCLR Phase 2 is nearing completion with 98% physical work already completed,” the MMRDA said.
The SCLR Phase 2 is the final phase of the wider Santacruz-Chembur Link Road project.
Once completed, the corridor is expected to provide seamless connectivity between the Eastern Express Highway, Western Express Highway, Bandra Kurla Complex, Santacruz, Chembur, Kalina and Kurla.
Read also: Delhi asked to finish key anti-pollution works before winter as Centre reviews air action plan
The completed corridor is expected to reduce travel time by around 35 minutes and ease congestion across key arterial routes in Mumbai.
The final BKC-Vakola arm has been a crucial part of the project because it closes the remaining western-side gap in the SCLR network.
The SCLR Phase 2 connector from Bharat Diamond Bourse and Mumbai University to Vakola Junction is about 1.4 Km long.
Earlier this month, MMRDA said it had launched the final girders on SCLR Phase 2, bringing the 10.88-Km corridor closer to full operationalisation.
The authority said the work involved twin 54-metre composite girders over the Vakola Nallah bridge between Bharat Diamond Bourse in BKC and Vakola.
MMRDA said the girders weighed approximately 358 metric tonnes and were erected at two levels over the existing Vakola Nallah bridge using 700 MT and 500 MT heavy-duty cranes.
It added that conventional support systems were not feasible at the location, making full-span launching the only viable method.
The final 1.4-Km BKC-Vakola arm includes a 500-metre four-lane elevated road and 900 metres of two-lane connectors.
The stretch is intended to complete a nearly continuous, signal-free route between the Eastern Express Highway and Western Express Highway through BKC.
The SCLR was originally developed as a major east-west arterial corridor in Mumbai, connecting Santacruz and Chembur and improving access between the western and eastern suburbs.
The original link road was opened to traffic in 2014, while later extensions and Phase 2 arms were planned to address remaining bottlenecks around BKC, Kalina and Vakola.
With the final arm now close to completion, the SCLR corridor is expected to shift from partial connectivity to a more integrated urban mobility system, improving movement towards BKC and reducing pressure on congested approach roads in Santacruz, Vakola, Kalina, Kurla and Chembur.
