December 17, 2025: Mumbai has moved a step closer to improving daily commuting conditions with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approving microsurfacing projects worth Rs 129 crore on the city’s two key arterial corridors—the Western and Eastern Express Highways. The initiative is aimed at strengthening road durability, improving safety, and minimising traffic disruption across some of the busiest stretches in the metropolitan region.
The tender covers selected sections of both highways, which together handle millions of vehicle movements every day and form Mumbai’s primary north–south transport spine. Officials clarified that the works are being undertaken as preventive maintenance rather than full-scale resurfacing, allowing traffic flow to be maintained while extending the life of existing road infrastructure.
Under the plan, around ₹69 crore has been allocated for microsurfacing a 7.5-kilometre stretch of the Western Express Highway between Goregaon and Borivali. Another ₹60 crore will be spent on a 7.9-kilometre section of the Eastern Express Highway connecting Ghatkopar and Chembur. These routes are critical links between residential suburbs and major commercial and industrial hubs.
Microsurfacing is a thin protective road treatment designed to address surface wear, improve skid resistance, and prevent water seepage without requiring prolonged lane closures. Urban transport experts note that such methods are especially suitable for dense cities like Mumbai, where extended road shutdowns can severely disrupt mobility and economic activity. Explaining the approach, an official involved in the project said, “Comprehensive repairs on these highways would be expensive and cause severe congestion. By carrying out targeted works every year, the city can ensure smoother roads while keeping traffic moving.”
Maintenance of the express highways was transferred to the municipal corporation in 2023, after which the BMC adopted a lifecycle-based strategy focused on cost efficiency and commuter comfort. Well-maintained roads are also expected to reduce vehicle idling, lower fuel consumption, and help curb emissions.
Once tenders are finalised, the microsurfacing works will commence, with civic officials assuring close monitoring to minimise inconvenience to motorists.
