In response to a Times of India report on April 17 highlighting the risk of traffic congestion for westbound motorists at the CD Barfiwala flyover, the BMC has moved quickly to address the issue. The civic body has begun removing barricades that were placed for the JVPD flyover project, stretching up to the Versova signal. This will now allow vehicles to exit the Barfiwala flyover without obstructions.
The concern stemmed from the fact that the westbound arm of the Barfiwala flyover currently merges into a narrow single-lane stretch, posing a risk of traffic buildup. The flyover is meant to ease movement between east and west Andheri, especially once Phase 2 of the Gokhale bridge is completed.
Last week, Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar inspected the site and instructed officials to clear the barricades up to the traffic signal. He noted that while the JVPD flyover work will continue, construction on the portion immediately beyond the Barfiwala descent is scheduled for the final phase. “It was essential to open up this stretch now to avoid a new choke point. Without this clearance, vehicles would have had to take a sharp turn into a narrow slip road, likely causing traffic jams, possibly extending as far back as the Gokhale bridge,” Bangar said.
He added that the remaining barricades beyond the signal would remain in place, as they’re unlikely to cause significant disruption, with some traffic naturally diverting at that point and a gentler turn.
Officials confirmed that the JVPD flyover project will proceed as planned beyond this stretch. Residents have welcomed the BMC’s intervention, describing it as timely and necessary.
Source: The Times of India
