The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started strengthening and repairing the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and the Swami Narayan overpass in Kurla in response to consultant suggestions. The project is anticipated to be completed within the next 15 months at an estimated cost of Rs 31 crore.
SCLR is a crucial 6.45-km-long, 45.7-metre-wide arterial road in Mumbai, connecting the Western Express Highway (WEH) in Santacruz to the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) in Chembur. Originally developed as part of the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), the six-lane road was constructed with an investment of Rs 454 crore. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) later financed additional phases before transferring the road’s management to the BMC in 2015.
Since its construction, the SCLR bridge has not undergone any major repairs. Last year, the BMC appointed a consultant to conduct a structural audit of Mumbai’s bridges, including SCLR. The findings highlighted the urgent need for maintenance work.
A senior civic official stated, “The girders have developed cracks, the footpath requires restoration, and the UPVC pipes are damaged. Additionally, overgrown vegetation needs clearing, and the bridge’s paintwork and rust require attention. Structural strengthening is essential for long-term safety, durability, and functionality. Similarly, the flyover in Kurla also requires repairs.”
Amar Mahal, Kurla Kalina, and the Double-Decker flyover are the three main flyovers on the SCLR route. Both the connection road and the flyovers need to be repaired, according to a 2021 BMC and railway officials’ inspection. The most noticeable of these is the 3.45-kilometer-long CST Road flyover. Along LBS Road, there is also a 1.8-kilometer double-decker flyover and a 560-meter Kurla Kalina flyover.
Source: The Free Press Journal
