A vital flyover connecting Vikhroli West’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg to the Eastern Express Highway in Vikhroli East was opened to the public at 4 PM on Saturday, June 14, following its completion by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The decision was made to provide early relief to commuters ahead of the monsoon season, when traffic congestion is known to increase.
The new infrastructure has been designed to significantly reduce travel time between Vikhroli East and West by up to 30 minutes. Its construction was undertaken by the Roads and Traffic Department of the BMC and carried out in three phases. The completed structure measures 615 metres in length and 12 metres in width. According to a public update shared on X by the civic body, 18 girder spans were placed during the construction, supported by 19 piers in total — 12 situated on the eastern side and seven on the west. To support smooth vehicular movement, a traffic holding bay was included on the western approach of the flyover.
The visuals of the completed bridge were shared by the BMC to emphasize its importance as a major development in Mumbai’s traffic infrastructure. The flyover is expected to benefit thousands of daily commuters who face delays while navigating between the two parts of Vikhroli. The decision to open the flyover without an official ceremony was announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It was stated that traffic delays during the monsoon had prompted this immediate measure. The Chief Minister confirmed that the decision had been taken in consultation with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
The origins of the Vikhroli flyover trace back to 1997, when the need for a dedicated east-west connector in the Vikhroli area was first identified by city planners and transport authorities. At the time, rapid urbanisation in Mumbai's eastern suburbs had already begun to place heavy stress on arterial roads like Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg and the Eastern Express Highway. The idea of a flyover linking the two sides of Vikhroli was proposed as part of a broader urban mobility blueprint under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) discussions. However, despite being recognised as a critical link to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity, the project got caught in a web of bureaucratic approvals, budgetary constraints, and land acquisition delays. For years, it remained one of many "pending proposals" shelved in official records.
It was further revealed by Fadnavis that the flyover project had been initiated during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister in 2018. A total expenditure of ₹104.77 crore had been invested in its execution. Orders were reportedly issued to the BMC Commissioner and the Mumbai Police to ensure that the structure would be opened by the scheduled time. By prioritising functionality over formalities, authorities aimed to ensure that residents would not face unnecessary delays during the rainy season. The early opening of the flyover has been welcomed as a proactive step towards easing Mumbai’s growing traffic concerns.
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