Opened in 2014, the initial Santa Cruz–Chembur Link Road (SCLR) included the first double-decker flyover in Mumbai. In order to facilitate faster travel between the city’s suburbs, it connected Amar Mahal Junction on the Eastern Express Highway to Kapadia Nagar on CST Road in the west. As traffic congestion at numerous intersections, particularly in the Vakola neighbourhood, increased, the project’s flaws were soon exposed.
With an emphasis on avoiding the congestion that beset the original route, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority chose to extend the SCLR in response to these problems. Although the extension project’s construction started in 2016, difficulties, especially those pertaining to the purchase of defence land and discussions with the BMC regarding compensation with the Ministry of Defence, have slowed the project progress.
Significant parts of the extension have already been finished, despite these obstacles. Although much-needed respite is anticipated from the SCLR’s extension, transport experts like Vivek Pai caution that the advantages may eventually be outweighed by the sharp rise in the number of vehicles on Mumbai’s roadways. Infrastructure initiatives like these, according to Pai, might only offer short-term fixes in the absence of vehicle ownership laws, which would increase traffic as more cars hit the road.
“The SCLR extension is a prime example of how the existing SCLR, which was intended to operate until 2050, was unable to manage the traffic load and an elevated corridor had to be built in order to get around the bottleneck,” Pai stated. Nevertheless, building flyovers, elevated roadways and double-deck bridges won’t assist with the traffic issues. Like the current SCLR project, the SCLR expansion project will not be able to handle the growing traffic within ten years.
The future Goregaon Mulund Link Road is also intended to connect the east and west, making east-west connection still crucial. So, despite having multiple roads, the traffic problem is getting worse and therefore regulations on vehicle ownership the needed,” Pai said. The extension promises to provide commuters with direct connectivity between the Western and Eastern Express Highways, cutting down travel time significantly and eliminating the need to navigate congested areas such as Vakola Junction. The extension will also aid in bypassing traffic congestion in areas that are notorious for slow-moving traffic.
With reduced congestion, commuters will enjoy smoother, more predictable travel across the city. Additionally, it will enhance the flow of goods and services, boosting the city’s economic output and productivity. Once open, it will reduce travel time between the Eastern and Western Express Highways by approximately 45 minutes, improving access to critical areas such as the Bandra-Kurla Complex and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Source: The Free Press Journal
