Mumbai : The BMC has finally scrapped its Rs 628 crore project to construct five flyovers along five junctions of the Andheri-Borivali link road as the MMRDA notified the civic body that the Metro II will be constructed along this road.
In a letter written to the roads and traffic department, the MMRDA has advised the BMC to put all projects along this line on hold until further decision can be reached.
Earlier in July, Free Press Journal had reported about this project being stuck in limbo due to a tussle between the BMC and the MMRDA. The BMC had conducted feasibility surveys for construction of these five flyovers along the Andheri-Borivali Link road. However, then, a decision was yet to be reached about scrapping the projects.
Chief Engineer of Bridges S O Kori informed that the BMC has now decided to cancel this project all together.
The MMRDA had earlier advised the BMC to construct these flyovers across the link road, instead of along it. What would have benefitted over 35,000 commuters would then benefit only 15,000 commuters (according to BMC’s survey), if it was constructed across the link road.
Kori said, “We will spend the same amount of money, but benefit half the commuters that way. So we have scrapped the project entirely. We will conduct a fresh survey sometime soon to determine if we need to construct the flyovers across.”
However, Ashok Datar, a city-based traffic expert said, “After the Metro project is completed, it will automatically lift traffic off the street and unclog the road, as commuters are expected to use the Metro. There is no point in constructing these flyovers anymore.”
These flyovers were proposed on five major junctions along link road: at Bosco School Junction in Borivali, MG Road and Link Road Junction at Kandivali, Mith Chowky Junction in Malad, Chincholi Bunder Junction and at Bangur Nagar Junction in Goregaon.
