The long-awaited Vidyavihar flyover project in Mumbai has entered its final phase, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) completing most of the construction work.
According to civic officials, only the concrete casting of two spans remains, and this is expected to be completed by August 31. Once the remaining work is finished, the BMC will carry out mandatory load tests and technical safety inspections before opening the flyover to the public.
If all safety tests are successfully completed, the flyover is expected to be opened to traffic after September 8.
The new flyover will connect Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg in Vidyavihar East with Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg in Vidyavihar West, significantly improving east-west connectivity.
The project also includes a 100-metre span over the Central Railway tracks and provides direct access to the footpaths at Vidyavihar railway station, making commuting safer and more convenient for pedestrians.
A senior official from the BMC's Bridges Department said that all major construction work has been completed except for the casting of two spans. The flyover will be opened only after the remaining work is completed and all mandatory load and safety tests are successfully cleared.
To ensure smooth traffic movement after the flyover becomes operational, the BMC has started widening the approach roads on both sides of the bridge.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar recently reviewed the project's progress and directed officials to resolve issues related to traffic bottlenecks, affected establishments, footpaths, and trees without delay.
The civic body is also preparing a dedicated traffic management plan in coordination with the Mumbai Traffic Police to ensure seamless traffic flow after the flyover opens.
The proposal for the Vidyavihar flyover was first conceived in 1991. The project gained momentum in 2016, while construction officially began in 2018.
Originally scheduled for completion by mid-2022, the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent design modifications.
The work order was awarded to AB Infrabuild Limited in February 2024, and after multiple deadline extensions, the total project cost has increased to ₹178.93 crore.
Once operational, the flyover is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Vidyavihar East and West.
During peak hours, commuters currently spend 40 to 45 minutes travelling between the two sides. The new flyover is expected to reduce this journey to just 10 to 15 minutes, providing major relief to daily commuters.