Mumbai: New flyover to ease travel woes between Tulsi Pipe Road, Western Express Highway

An empty Tulsi Pipe Road during the Covid-19 lockdown last year. File Pics

The Bridge Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon appoint a consultant to estimate a cost and draft a design for a new flyover that will connect the Senapati Bapat Marg (Tulsi Pipe Road) to the Western Express Highway (WEH). While the bridge was planned four years ago, the project never took off owing to several reasons, but now it will finally get rolling. This bridge will enable motorists coming from Lower Parel and Dadar via Mahim to directly head to WEH without any detours that otherwise lead to a delay of about 20 minutes, said civic officials.

Currently, motorists have to navigate heavy traffic on the congested Tulsi Pipe Road, then take the narrow Mori Road, connect to SV Road between Mahim and Bandra before finally reaching the highway. According to the civic body, the new flyover will cut down travel time by almost half. The proposed flyover will connect Mahim station to the WEH, pass directly over Mithi River and will have two arms connecting the north and south ends. Commuters going towards Bandra Reclamation or Sea Link from Mahim station can take the bridge, said a civic official.

The flyover will cut down travel time between Tulsi Pipe Road and WEH

However, civic sources said that the project would require environmental clearances from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority and State Expert Appraisal Committee. Apart from protecting the river, the consultant will be entrusted with the responsibility of drawing up a plan that will help protect the mangroves near Bandra as well.

While the plan is still at a very nascent stage, a civic official said that a rough design of the bridge had been drafted and it was clear that the structure would have two exits on the northern and southern sides. However, the consultant would design it technically and evaluate the cost while ensuring minimum impact on the environment. Satish Thosar, chief engineer of the Bridge Department confirmed the development.