June 14, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has commenced work on two new arms for the Ghatkopar–Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) flyover in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion at the Maharashtra Nagar junction in Govandi. The project, expected to significantly reduce travel time between Vashi and Ghatkopar, carries a projected cost of Rs 1,051 crore, according to the Hindustan Times.
The ongoing construction includes two flyover arms that will directly link GMLR to the Sion–Panvel Highway, allowing motorists to bypass the signal at Maharashtra Nagar. A third arm, still in the planning phase, is proposed to connect GMLR directly to Maharashtra Nagar by crossing the Harbour Railway line. This segment requires a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Central Railway before work can begin. Once granted, BMC will issue tenders for the 620-metre-long, 8.5-metre-high structure.
Once operational, the new arms will allow vehicles travelling between Vashi and the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) to avoid traffic signals altogether, potentially reducing commute times by up to 20 minutes.
Work on the two primary arms began in January 2025, following tender finalisation in September 2024. However, construction along the Sion–Panvel Highway is currently delayed due to pending permissions. These include NOCs from the Public Works Department, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, and the Mangroves Department, since the project passes through sensitive ecological zones.
Land acquisition efforts are also underway, with assistance from CIDCO, as the flyover overlaps with the proposed metro corridor between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports.
Commuters have criticised the delay in planning, citing years of congestion and frequent accidents. BMC officials have defended the phased approach, stating that simultaneous execution of the entire stretch would have created further disruption in an already high-traffic corridor.
Source: News 18
