After nearly a decade of persistent efforts by citizens, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally set in motion work on two critical “missing link” roads in north Mumbai. These projects, long stuck in limbo, are expected to improve east-west connectivity and ease congestion in the suburban region. However, progress remains uneven, with at least seven other vital road links still facing delays due to land acquisition issues and encroachments.
The concept of these missing links can be traced back to Mumbai’s 1962 Development Plan and has continued to feature in later plans, including those of 1991 and 2034. Despite their longstanding inclusion, many of these roads have remained unrealised, worsening traffic bottlenecks across the city. Citizen Collective Mumbai March has been actively advocating for their execution since 2016 and even organised a road march in March 2021 to draw attention to the issue.
“We have been working for nine years to address bottlenecks and push for these missing links,” said Gopal Jhaveri, founder of Mumbai March. “There are around 250 such roads identified in the city’s development plans since 1962.”
Among the projects that have finally moved forward is the Kulupwadi stretch in Borivali East, where land from national park authorities has been transferred to the BMC. Another crucial corridor connecting Thakur Village and Lokhandwala in Kandivali is also progressing after encroachments were cleared. This route is expected to ease pressure on the heavily used Western Express Highway.
Officials acknowledge that several other projects remain stalled due to complex land ownership patterns and the challenge of rehabilitating slum residents. “Many of the required land parcels are owned by private individuals or various government agencies. Encroachments and rehabilitation of slum dwellers remain major obstacles, especially given the limited availability of housing for project-affected families,” an official said.
Key pending stretches include the Siddharth Nagar–Magathane–Devipada link and a proposed corridor from Lokhandwala to Dindoshi via Pathanwadi, which also involves a bridge over the Malad reservoir. Another incomplete stretch is the Rishivan to Dahisar Check Naka link.
While recent developments signal progress, the broader network remains incomplete. For Mumbai’s commuters, meaningful relief will depend on the timely execution of all planned missing links.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
