SCLR: New Bridge to Improve North-South Connectivity in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to construct a new bridge to connecting the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, which aims to improve automobile connectivity from north to south.

This move comes after the two phases of SCLR project, which is almost complete, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Besides, the third arm of the SCLR extension project is expected to be opened soon.

However, the construction of the SCLR project was not without its challenges, as a large number of hutments had to be demolished to build a bridge across the railway line. Despite the completion of the SCLR, the BMC's L ward failed to comply with directions to remove all stores selling scraps off this route from the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. This led to traffic jams and bottlenecks, which ultimately resulted in the need for four more bridges at a cost of approximately INR 1000 crore.

The new bridge, which is expected to take 24 months to complete, will allow traffic from Bandra to travel towards Ghatkopar via LBS Marg, bypassing three signal junctions. It will also allow traffic from Santacruz to travel via SCLR Road to Ghatkopar via LBS Marg, skipping one signal junction. The 246-meter long bridge is estimated to cost INR 29.38 crore.

However, a top mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officer has claimed that if BMC's L ward officers had done their job and kept encroachers at bay, four bridges would not have been required. This highlights the need for proper enforcement of regulations to prevent encroachment and illegal establishments from causing traffic bottlenecks.

According to a traffic officer assigned to the Ghatkopar division, LBS Marg from Kurla Depot to Sonapur Road has seen a significant increase in the number of illegal eating establishments, causing traffic bottlenecks. Authorities have been repeatedly urged to take action against these establishments, but little has been done. This issue needs to be addressed as it continues to cause significant problems for commuters in the area.