August 5, 2025: Mumbai’s civic administration is set to dismantle the Veer Savarkar flyover in Goregaon, just seven years after it was opened to the public. Constructed at a cost of rs 27 crore, the structure will be removed to make way for an elevated connector under Phase 2 of the Versova-Dahisar segment of the Coastal Road project.
Also known locally as the MTNL flyover, the structure was inaugurated in August 2018 and serves as a vital east-west arterial link in the city’s western suburbs. Spanning the stretch between Radisson Hotel and Rustomjee Ozone, the flyover had notably eased congestion in the area. However, civic officials state that a recent technical assessment confirmed the flyover obstructs the proposed alignment between Mindspace and the Dindoshi court, leaving demolition as the only feasible solution.
In its place, a two-tiered flyover has been proposed, with the upper deck forming part of the coastal corridor and the lower deck acting as a redesigned version of the Savarkar flyover. A formal proposal is currently being prepared for the municipal commissioner’s approval.
The flyover removal is critical to integrating the new corridor with the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) and enhancing east-west and north-south connectivity across the city. Yet, the move has drawn criticism from urban planners and local residents, who have raised concerns over traffic disruption, dust pollution, and the perceived lack of long-term planning. Comparisons have already been made to the demolition of the Bandra (West) skywalk for Metro Line 2B.
As Mumbai forges ahead with its 22-kilometre Coastal Road (North)—featuring tunnels, stilt roads, and cable-stayed bridges—the challenge remains: aligning modern infrastructure ambitions with legacy networks, while maintaining fiscal prudence and environmental sensitivity.
Source: Urban Acres
