A crucial section of the long-pending Magathane-to-Goregaon 120-foot Development Plan (DP) Road is expected to be opened to the public in June, offering improved connectivity between Lokhandwala, Thakur Village and the Western Express Highway (WEH).
The upcoming 500-metre stretch, connecting Lokhandwala and Thakur Village through Singh Estate, is expected to benefit more than 20,000 residents while reducing traffic pressure on Akurli Road, which currently serves as the primary access route to the highway for the area. Residents of nearby localities, including Damu Nagar, Kranti Nagar and Hanuman Nagar, are also expected to benefit from the new link.
The project, which is being monitored under the Chief Minister’s war room initiative, has witnessed several delays over the years due to encroachments and illegal structures along the proposed alignment. According to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official, the 5.5-km-long DP Road runs parallel to the WEH and encountered three major encroached patches during implementation.
“During the construction of this DP road, three patches with illegal structures fell along the planned alignment. Structures at two locations have already been removed, and for the remaining patch, we are seeking permission from the relevant departments to proceed with demolition. In June, a part of the road will be opened to the public,” the officer said.
Officials said a 330-metre encroached portion between Lokhandwala and Thakur Village has already been cleared, while demolition work is underway on an 85-metre section occupied by a transit camp. The road construction is currently in its final stages.
The project also involved clearing nearly 300 structures at Singh Estate after affected residents were rehabilitated. A portion of land required for the road was handed over to the BMC by a private company in 2018.
The Lokhandwala Residents Association (LRA), which filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court in 2024 seeking implementation of the project, welcomed the development.
A Lokhandwala resident, Santy Shetty, stated, “As a Lokhandwala resident, the opening of the DP road feels like a huge relief. For years, we have struggled with just one access route, and traffic on Akurli Road has been a daily headache. With this new stretch connecting to Thakur Village, it’s not just about convenience; it’s about finally feeling that our growing community is being supported with proper infrastructure. This road will ease congestion, cut travel time to the Western Express Highway, and make life smoother for thousands of families here.”
Source: The Free Press Journal
