August 6, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to demolish the Veer Savarkar flyover in Goregaon, which cost Rs 27 cr and opened in 2018. The move, coming just seven years after its inauguration, aims to enable the construction of a key elevated connector for the Versova-Dahisar section of Coastal Road Phase 2.
Also known as the MTNL flyover, the Savarkar structure has served as a vital east-west link, easing congestion by connecting S.V. Road to New Link Road. However, officials have determined that it obstructs the alignment of the proposed coastal corridor between Mindspace and Dindoshi Court.
In its place, the civic body plans a two-tiered flyover, featuring an upper deck for the coastal road and a lower deck to reconfigure the existing link. A formal proposal is being prepared for approval by Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani. The demolition is likely to cause disruption for daily commuters, as the flyover significantly reduced travel time to areas such as Malad, Madh, and Marve. Residents have voiced concerns about potential traffic snarls and dust pollution during the project.
This segment forms part of the broader Mumbai Coastal Road Project Phase 2, which spans around 22.9 kilometres and includes a series of infrastructure upgrades to enhance connectivity. Alongside this, major projects such as the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) and Madh-Versova bridge have already placed strain on the BMC’s Bridges Department.
To address manpower shortages, the civic body plans to deploy 200 additional officers for the Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) project, which carries an estimated cost of ₹16,621 crore. An elevated Dahisar-Bhayandar road costing Rs 3,304 cr is also expected to begin in August 2025. Phase II will further feature tunnels and a cable-stayed bridge, with construction scheduled to commence in September.
Source: The Free Press Journal
