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Mumbai, infamous for its relentless traffic jams, is set to witness a major infrastructure upgrade with five key bridges nearing completion. These long awaited projects, scheduled to open in phased manner soon, are expected to ease congestion, improve travel time, and provide smoother connectivity across various parts of the city.
The city’s rapid urban expansion has led to an overwhelming number of vehicles on the road, making daily commuting a challenge. With existing bridges in dire need of upgrades and new ones long overdue, the opening of these flyovers and overbridges is being seen as a much-needed relief for Mumbaikars. Check which new bridges coming up in the city:
Gopal Krishna Gokhale bridge (Andheri East-West): One of the most critical projects, this bridge will reconnect Andheri East and West, a stretch that has suffered massive traffic congestion after the old structure was shut for repairs. Once operational, it will significantly reduce travel time in one of Mumbai’s busiest commercial and residential hubs.
Delisle Road bridge (Lower Parel): This bridge in Lower Parel is crucial for central Mumbai, where increasing office and residential complexes have led to severe congestion. The new structure will ease the load on surrounding roads and make commutes smoother.
Carnac Bunder bridge (Near Masjid Bunder and CST): Located near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST), this bridge is expected to improve connectivity between South Mumbai and other parts of the city, helping reduce gridlocks in one of Mumbai’s most traffic-prone zones.
Byculla bridge: A critical east-west connector, the Byculla bridge’s renovation and expansion will ease movement in central Mumbai, providing relief to thousands of daily commuters.
Chunabhatti-BKC Connector: This bridge will link the Eastern Express Highway to the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), a crucial business district. It is expected to significantly cut down travel time for office-goers and decongest existing road networks.
Apart from the five major bridges nearing completion, several other critical flyovers and overbridges are in the pipeline to further ease congestion across Mumbai. These include:
- Jai Hind Colony bridge, Mulund: This is expected to improve connectivity in the eastern suburbs, where traffic bottlenecks have been a persistent issue. The bridge will provide smoother movement for residents and commercial vehicles, reducing pressure on existing roads.
- Mrunaltai Gore flyover extension: The extension of the Mrunaltai Gore Flyover is set to enhance connectivity in the Goregaon area. It will help ease congestion on the Western Express Highway, providing an alternative route for commuters and reducing the notorious bottlenecks in the region.
- Shankar Lane-Irani Wadi ROB: This railway overbridge (ROB) will improve east-west connectivity in Kandivali, a rapidly growing residential and commercial hub. Currently, heavy congestion near the railway crossing slows down traffic movement. The new overbridge will help ease this and provide a direct route for motorists.
- Charkop bridge: The Charkop bridge project aims to decongest the suburban areas of Kandivali and Malad, providing a crucial link between residential colonies and main roads. The bridge is expected to be a game changer for local commuters who struggle with daily congestion in the area.
Why do these bridges matter?: Mumbai’s infrastructure has struggled to keep up with its ever growing population and increasing vehicular traffic. These new bridges are designed to:
- Reduce travel time: Faster connectivity between key residential and commercial areas.
- Ease congestion: Divert traffic from heavily clogged routes.
- Improve road safety: Replacing aging structures that have become hazardous over time.
- Support economic activity: Better infrastructure means smoother business operations and productivity.
For daily commuters who have faced years of delays, detours, and congestion, the completion of these bridges is a long awaited relief. While some of these projects faced delays due to logistical and funding challenges, their imminent opening signals progress in Mumbai’s infrastructure development.
With the city’s ever growing traffic pressure, these five bridges mark just a step in the ongoing efforts to make Mumbai more commuter-friendly. But for now, Mumbaikars can finally look forward to some much-needed breathing space on the roads.
