The long-pending Vidyavihar flyover, one of Mumbai’s key east-west connectivity projects, is now expected to open to traffic by August 15, following a series of delays. Originally slated for commissioning in June, the ₹178-crore Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) project is in its final stages of construction.
The flyover, spanning above the Central Railway tracks at Vidyavihar station, will connect Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg on the eastern side with Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg on the west, significantly improving cross-city movement.
First proposed nearly 35 years ago and included in the BMC’s revised Development Plan of 1991, the project remained on the drawing board for decades before tenders were finally invited in 2016.
Once operational, the four-lane bridge is expected to substantially reduce travel time between Vidyavihar East and West. Motorists who currently spend 40 to 45 minutes navigating through Ghatkopar or Kurla during peak hours are expected to complete the journey in under 10 minutes.
The 612-metre-long flyover features an open-web girder structure crossing the railway corridor, with each girder weighing around 1,100 metric tonnes. In addition to improving vehicular movement, the bridge includes footpaths on both sides and provides pedestrians with direct access to the Vidyavihar railway station platforms.
The project has witnessed multiple deadline extensions over the years. Its original completion target was mid-2022, which was later revised to December 2024, followed by March 2025, June 2026, and now August 2026.
Highlighting the project’s importance, a senior BMC official said, “Currently, the route demands a long detour and can take anywhere between 40-45 minutes during peak travel time. Once the bridge is constructed, the east-west commute in Vidyavihar will cut down to 10-15 minutes.”
The flyover is expected to ease congestion on surrounding roads, improve east-west connectivity in the central suburbs, and provide a faster alternative for commuters travelling across the railway corridor. Once opened, it will become a vital addition to Mumbai’s growing network of transport infrastructure aimed at reducing travel time and improving urban mobility.
Source: The Indian Express
