After years of delays and stalled progress, the long-awaited Vidyavihar Road Over Bridge (ROB) in eastern Mumbai is finally on track to be operational by April 2026. Connecting two major arterial roads—Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg and Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg—the bridge is poised to become a key infrastructure link for the city’s eastern suburbs. Originally proposed in the 1991 Development Plan, the project remained dormant for decades before formal construction began in 2018.
Commuters in areas such as Ghatkopar and Kurla have long endured major traffic bottlenecks due to the absence of a direct railway crossing in this corridor. The lack of a proper link forced vehicles onto narrow, congested alternate routes, particularly during peak hours. With the completion of the Vidyavihar ROB, daily travel is expected to become significantly smoother, easing pressure on surrounding road networks and improving commute times.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the body overseeing the project, has faced numerous hurdles in executing the bridge’s construction. Among the primary challenges was the removal of nearly 80 unauthorised structures along the planned route. The process also required the transplantation and felling of trees, relocation of railway ticket counters, and realignment of critical stormwater drainage systems. Additionally, unforeseen demands for steel and other materials contributed to the lengthy delays.
Despite the setbacks, major milestones have been reached. The bridge—measuring a substantial 650 metres in length—is now among Mumbai’s longest. The first major girder was installed in May 2023, followed by a second in November the same year. With these heavy components, each weighing around 1,100 metric tonnes, now in place, work on the approach roads began in February 2024. The completion of these roads is key to ensuring the smooth flow of traffic once the bridge opens to the public.
While there is visible progress, local residents remain cautiously optimistic. Concerns have been raised that the bridge might simply shift traffic congestion to nearby junctions if approach road widening and traffic management plans are not handled efficiently. These fears highlight the broader challenge of ensuring that improvements in one area do not inadvertently lead to new bottlenecks elsewhere.
The Vidyavihar ROB is part of a larger urban mobility strategy aimed at addressing eastern Mumbai’s chronic traffic issues. However, several other bridges in the region—such as those in Bhandup, Vikhroli, and Ghatkopar—are still under construction, with no firm timelines for completion. Without the full network in place, the benefits of the Vidyavihar ROB could be limited.
Nonetheless, its eventual completion marks an important milestone in Mumbai’s infrastructure development. As the city’s population and vehicle numbers continue to grow, consistent planning and timely execution will be essential to prevent infrastructure improvements from being outpaced by rising demand.
Source: Urban Acres
