Mumbai’s under-construction Ghatkopar Road Overbridge (ROB) is undergoing a design change after nearly 30 per cent of the project work was completed. As part of the revised plan, three pier caps will be partially demolished and rebuilt at a higher level to accommodate a separate lower-level road bridge.
The redesign aims to streamline traffic movement by separating local east-west vehicles from traffic travelling between Andheri and the Eastern Express Highway. Under the new two-tier arrangement, the lower ROB will serve local commuters, while the main cable-stayed structure will carry through traffic.
The principal bridge will also be widened to provide three lanes in each direction. The changes are intended to address both current congestion and projected traffic demand along the busy Ghatkopar corridor.
According to the revised plan, pier caps identified as R, RP16 and RP17 will be modified to make room for the secondary ROB at the existing road level. The lower bridge will operate between Shreyas (LBS) Junction and Pant Nagar Junction, providing a more direct connection for local traffic.
The existing ROB on the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road is being reconstructed after being declared dilapidated. The original proposal envisaged a cable-stayed bridge as the primary east-west connection. The revised configuration has been introduced to improve traffic distribution and accommodate the corridor’s long-term requirements.
Under the earlier design, vehicles travelling between Ghatkopar’s western and eastern areas would have had to move towards Shreyas Junction, make a U-turn and continue towards Ghatkopar East. The arrangement was expected to create additional movement for residents making short local trips.
The new lower-level ROB is expected to provide a direct alternative for such journeys, while the elevated cable-stayed bridge will focus on longer-distance traffic between Andheri and the Eastern Express Highway.
The redesign could also improve access to key local destinations, including schools, markets, hospitals, the railway station and the ward office on the eastern side. By segregating local and through traffic, the revised structure is expected to reduce vehicle conflicts and improve movement along one of Ghatkopar’s busiest transport corridors.
