Before the monsoon, city officials believe that the eagerly awaited Vikhroli East-West connector, which will connect the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) with Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg (LBS Road), will be available to traffic. Local activists counter that the deadline might be extended if the approach road on the bridge’s western side is not built on time.
Initially approved by the BMC in 2018, the project was originally slated for completion by October 2020. However, setbacks due to design modifications, encroachments, land acquisition challenges, and the pandemic led to multiple extensions, first to May 2023, then to December 2024. In response to growing concerns, the civic body now aims to complete the bridge by May 2025.
Local activist Jayant Dandekar stressed that Vikhroli’s east-west connectivity has long been inadequate. While overbridges exist at Ghatkopar and Kanjurmarg stations, Vikhroli residents have had to detour via these areas to travel between the east and west. The new bridge, which was meant to alleviate this issue, has instead become a source of frustration due to the repeated delays. He further noted that work on the western approach road has not yet commenced, raising doubts about the feasibility of the revised timeline.
Ganesh Shetty, another activist, expressed concerns that if roads in the vicinity are not widened, the new bridge could worsen traffic congestion, particularly on the EEH. He highlighted the urgent need for road expansion to prevent further commuter inconvenience. Additionally, Shetty pointed out that unless the civic body accelerates work by deploying additional manpower, the project is unlikely to meet the new deadline.
A bridge department official, however, defended the current pace, explaining that the Vikhroli connector features an ‘S’-shaped girder, which necessitates meticulous installation. The girder is currently being assembled in the factory, and all work is expected to be completed by May.
