Mumbai Metro: Expect utter traffic chaos on WEH in the coming months

Motorists using the Western Express Highway for travelling towards south Mumbai need to brace up for ugly traffic jams in the coming months, as Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to commence work on the 16.5-km-long Dahisar (East) to Andheri (East) Metro-7 corridor. While the preparatory work such as soil testing at locations where the girders would be laid would start before monsoon, the actual construction will commence post-monsoon.

MMRDA plans to divert the vehicular movement from WEH onto the SV road and Link road during the Metro-7 construction work. File pic for representation

A senior MMRDA officer said, "The contract for the civil constructions was awarded on Monday during the Executive Committee meeting. We'll start the preparatory work before monsoon and the begin the actual construction upon receiving an NOC from the traffic police department after the monsoon."

Another officer said though the construction work will lead to ugly traffic snarls, alternate routes will be opened for the motorists with the help of traffic police.

"We know that there will be traffic chaos on the WEH, but people should understand that we have taken the decision to construct this project so that their commuting woes are resolved. We'll coordinate with the traffic police department and find alternate routes for motorist to keep traffic issues at bay," the officer added.

The alternative
When the actual construction work begins, commuters using the WEH, especially between Dahisar and Andheri, will have to travel via SV Road or the Link road. However, the condition of both the roads is poor and they are marred by ugly traffic jams during morning and evening peak hours. The situation will worsen once the traffic form the WEH is diverted onto these roads.

About the project
In January, MMRDA had invited tenders for designing and construction of an elevated viaduct and 16 stations on the Metro-7 corridor in three separate phases. The three winning bidders will be responsible for collectively designing and building the entire corridor and 16 stations in 30 months.

Phase-1: Simplex Infrastructure
Design and construction of elevated viaduct and five elevated stations: Andheri (E), Shankarwadi, JVLR Junction, Mahanand and new Ashok Nagar.

Phase-2: J Kumar Infraprojects
Design and construction of elevated viaduct and six elevated stations: Aarey, Dindoshi, Pathan Wadi, Pushpa Park, Bandongri and Mahindra and Mahindra.

Phase-3: NCC Ltd
Design and construction of elevated viaduct and five elevated stations: Magathane, Devipada, National Park, Ovaripada and Dahisar (E).