Vikhroli-Koparkhairane Link Road will come up between Mulund-Airoli bridge & Vashi creek
Mumbai : Planned to boost the connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the Vikhroli-Koparkhairane link road is going to be delayed further. The hurdle before the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has denied MMRDA permission to construct the road through its dumping yard at Kanjurmarg.
The bridge, which is going to come up between the existing Mulund-Airoli Bridge and the Vashi creek-bridge, is crucial to reduce traffic congestion on the Sion-Panvel highway, Thane-Belapur road and the Vashi creek bridge.
MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner, UPS Madan said, “The BMC has denied construction permission through their dumping ground at Kanjurmarg so now the Belgian company, who is designing the bridge, is set to send a team to Mumbai to change the design and alignment.”
Last November, MMRDA had appointed a Belgian firm, NP Bridging, to design a creek bridge.
Civic authorities have opposed the plan stating that it would affect its activities at the dumping ground. Officials said though the final alignment is yet to be finalised, the road will now be built adjacent to the dumping ground.
According to the earlier plan, the new link road would start at Eastern Express Highway (EEH) where Jogeshwari- Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) ends and then pass over Thane creek and Harbour railway line before ending on Thane- Belapur road. The link would be a six-lane road of about 10 km in length including 2 km long bridge over the Thane creek, and is expected to incur expense of Rs 550 crore.
At present, motorists have to take either the Vashi bridge or Mulund-Airoli bridge to go to Navi Mumbai and Pune, which are longer routes for many of them. The new road, MMRDA officials say, will help motorists save time and fuel.
