Mumbai: A controversy has emerged between Uddhav Sena MLA Varun Sardesai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) over the opening of the Kalanagar Junction flyover.
Claim Made By MLA Varun Sardesai
On Wednesday morning, Sardesai claimed that the final stretch of the Kalanagar flyover had been opened to traffic without any formal inauguration. However, MMRDA sources later denied this, stating that the bridge was still not open to vehicular movement.
According to MMRDA sources, work on the flyover is yet to be completed — this includes the want of power supply, painting, signage, and other finishing touches. Once the remaining work is completed, the bridge will be formally inaugurated and opened to the public.
Sardesai alleged that despite the completion of construction, MMRDA was delaying the opening of the bridge simply because senior ministers were unavailable for a formal inauguration.
The Kalanagar flyover project was conceived to ease traffic congestion at the busy Kalanagar junction. The project involves the construction of three bridges, two of which have already been opened to traffic. The third and final bridge — the one at the centre of the controversy — was claimed to be opened by the MLA on Wednesday.
The bridge, which connects BKC to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link side, had its construction completed back in February 2021. The second bridge, heading from BKC toward the Sea Link, is already operational. The third bridge connects the Sion-Dharavi Link Road to the Sea Link and is the one Varun Sardesai claimed is ready for use.
