The long-awaited Santacruz-Chembur Link Road project has been brought closer to full operational readiness after a major structural milestone was achieved by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The remaining critical section of the larger corridor, which connects Bandra Kurla Complex with Vakola, has now been structurally completed with the installation of two composite girders over the Vakola Nallah bridge.
The BKC–Vakola arm forms part of the second phase of the SCLR project, which has been under development since 2016. Although this stretch is relatively short, it has been considered important because of the role it is expected to play in joining multiple elevated roads, connectors and bridge sections into one integrated traffic network. The section is likely to require at least three more months before it can be made available for public use.
The complete SCLR corridor network extends over 10.88 km, while the Vakola–BKC arm covers 1.4 km. This includes a 500-metre four-lane elevated carriageway and 900 metres of two-lane connecting arms. Once opened, this stretch is expected to improve access to and from Bandra Kurla Complex, one of Mumbai’s busiest commercial districts. The corridor has been planned to support smoother east–west movement across Mumbai. After all arms and connectors are completed, signal-free connectivity will be provided between the Eastern Express Highway and the Western Express Highway. The route will also improve links between Bandra Kurla Complex and the eastern and western suburbs.
The newly completed structural work has been seen as a significant step towards the full use of the corridor. Traffic movement across key business and residential zones is expected to be improved once the project becomes fully operational. Congestion around BKC entry and exit points may also be reduced, especially during peak travel hours.
With this progress, the SCLR corridor now stands close to full operationalisation. Its multiple elevated arms, interchanges and connecting roads are expected to help create a more efficient road network for Mumbai’s commuters.