September 11, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has granted in-principle approval to demolish the seven-year-old Veer Savarkar flyover in Goregaon to facilitate the construction of a double-decker bridge. The proposed structure will connect the Malad-Mindspace stretch of the Mumbai Coastal Road (North) to Dindoshi, additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar confirmed on Tuesday.
Part of the Coastal Road 2 project, the new bridge is intended to provide a seamless link between Versova and Dahisar. The demolition proposal is now awaiting final clearance from the municipal commissioner. If sanctioned, a double-decker bridge supported on a single pier will be built to connect the Coastal Road with the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road.
The Savarkar flyover, built at a cost of Rs 27 crore, runs between Radisson Hotel and Rustomjee Ozone. Bangar explained that multiple options had been considered before concluding that a double-decker bridge would best address both local traffic and the connector requirements between Malad and Dindoshi.
In early August, motorists had already observed piling work for the Dindoshi connector. Bangar added that since the bridge is extensive, spanning from Dindoshi to Malad, the demolition of the Savarkar flyover may not take place during this fair-weather construction season.
However, the proposal has sparked unease among residents and commuters, who fear severe traffic disruption. Memories of the Gokhale-Barfiwala “misaligned” flyovers debacle of 2022 remain fresh, intensifying concerns.
Former Goregaon corporator Deepak Thakur criticised the plan, warning that dismantling a flyover carrying significant east–west traffic would choke the already congested Western Express Highway. “We endured years of difficulty during its construction, and now face the same ordeal again,” he said, urging BMC to explore alternatives.
Opposition also came from Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh of Malad, who predicted major congestion in both Goregaon and Malad. Former corporator Sandeep Patel further questioned the planning rationale behind demolishing a flyover less than a decade old.
Source: The Times Of India
