The much-awaited Sewri-Worli Elevated Corridor (SWEC), a key infrastructure project designed to improve connectivity between Navi Mumbai and South Mumbai, is set to miss its September completion deadline. Officials now expect the 4.5-km elevated corridor to become operational in early 2027, marking another delay in the project timeline.
The corridor will connect the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) at Sewri with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, creating a seamless route for motorists travelling between Navi Mumbai and South Mumbai. Once completed, the project is expected to ease congestion on existing arterial roads and significantly reduce travel time.
The project was originally scheduled for completion in January 2024, but several challenges have delayed construction. Among the biggest hurdles were the demolition of the 112-year-old Elphinstone Bridge and the removal of the Haji Noorani building, the final obstruction that prevented the construction of key bridge pillars. The building, which housed 17 residents and six shopkeepers, was identified as a critical bottleneck in the project’s execution.
The Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MahaRail), responsible for bridge construction, also faced engineering challenges while dismantling the Elphinstone Bridge over active railway lines, requiring extensive coordination to ensure minimal disruption to rail operations.
Designed as a four-lane double-decker flyover, the Sewri-Worli connector will provide direct access between the Atal Setu (MTHL) and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The integrated corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Navi Mumbai and Worli from nearly 60 minutes to around 10 minutes, while also easing traffic on the Western Express Highway and other major city roads.
Construction of the corridor began in January 2021 under the supervision of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), with an estimated project cost of Rs 1,051.86 crore. Earlier this year, officials had indicated that around 62% of the work had been completed and projected commissioning by the end of 2026. However, the latest assessment suggests the corridor is now likely to open only in early 2027.
The Sewri-Worli connector forms an important component of Mumbai’s broader coastal and transport infrastructure network, which aims to enhance connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region through a series of major road and sea link projects.
Source: The Chenab Times
