Work on the Sewi-Worli elevated road to begin soon; project to be completed by 2023

Work on the Worli-Sewri elevated road project is finally expected to begin soon after years of wait. The much-anticipated project would ease commuting for the citizens and would serve as the East-West link to the city of Mumbai, connecting the Bandra-Worli Sea Route to the Shivdi-Chirle Trans Harbor Route.

According to the information received, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has awarded the contract worth INR 1,274 crores for this elevated road to J Kumar Infra Projects last month and the firm is expecting to complete the same in three years, i.e by 2023. Once functional, the elevated road will reduce the commute time from Sewri to Worli to just ten minutes. It will start from the east of Sewri railway station and will end at Acharya Hardekar Marg via Acharya Donde Marg, Jagannath Bhatankar Marg, and the Channel Road. 

The report states that this elevated road with four lanes and will be 4.51 km long with double bridges at Sewri railway station, Mumbai Port Trust route and railway line at Prabhadevi and Parel railway stations.

Records suggest that the plan for the elevated route was proposed since 2013 with an aim to reduce east-west traffic congestion in Mumbai, and the route is also connected to Sewri-Chirle Mumbai Trans Harbor route. Officials state that the Trans Harbor project began late and hence affected this project. Meeting regarding the same was held on February 27, 2018, however, the plan was stopped for some months due to environmental reasons and port permits.

But the MMRDA has finally issued the contract for the project, and parts on both the sides of the elevated route will be under the Maritime Boundary Control Act (CRZ). Keeping the same in mind, the Maharashtra Coastal Management Authority had asked for a public hearing on the construction on the coast which was held on January 7 this year. 

However, the meeting raised fewer objections to the CRZ and more objections to the displacement of residents on the route. It is said that the railway lines would have to be crossed at two points on the elevated route, and this is proposed from the existing route near Prabhadevi and Parel stations. Hence, the need for a double bridge was understood. The elevated road is being constructed as per the Greater Mumbai Model Development Plan and it is understood that the road under the elevated road will also be widened soon.