MMRDA mulls ₹187-cr road widening in Mumbai

To facilitate hassle-free traffic movement to road users of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (Terminal 2) and Domestic (Terminal 1) Airports, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has proposed vehicular underpasses and widening of the existing Juhu-Vile Parle flyover with a combined investment of ₹187.94 crore. Once ready, the motorists can drive at 40km/hr in these underpasses reducing the existing travel time. R P S Infra Projects has been awarded the contract through the tendering process for both the T2 and T1 underpasses construction and flyover widening work. At T2, two underpasses will be built costing ₹111.94 crore and at T1 one underpass and widening of the said Juhu-Vile Parle flyover will be carried out at cost of ₹76 crore. T1 project is expected to be completed in 18 months and T2 will take 24 months. The defect liability period after completion of work for both will be 5 years. According to the traffic survey report, at the T2 and T1 junctions on Western Express Highway during peak hours, the traffic is more than 10,000 passenger car unit (PCU). Therefore, it was suggested by the consultants that a grade-separated underpass should be developed. As per the plan, for access control on WEH from Bandra to T1, a controlled Underpass (-1 level) with drains has been proposed. The length of the Underpass is 0.384 km (Including approaches) and the underpass will be of two lanes and 10.25 m width. Widening of the flyover at the junction on each side by one lane of 3.5 m has been proposed. Length of the stretch of widening in a direction from Dahisar to Bandra is 0.458 km and from Bandra to Dahisar is v0.239 km. For the existing Juhu-Vile Parle flyover widening of one lane towards Dahisar and one lane towards Bandra has been proposed, which will increase the traffic capacity of the elevated route. Similarly, for access control on WEH from T2 towards Dahisar & Bandra, two controlled underpasses with drains have also been proposed.