MMRDA to alter elevated road plan

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to alter its design for the Worli-Sewri elevated road, which will connect south Mumbai and the western suburbs to the proposed Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL). MMRDA’s change of plan is owing to the fact that railways’ plans for an elevated rail corridor from Churchgate to Virar.

To begin from near the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL), the 4.5-km-long Worli-Sewri elevated road will cross the railway lines at thrice, with the proposed elevated rail line forcing it to soar to nearly 27-28 metre height at places. Confirming the design change plan, MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said they were planning to build an underpass near the Elphinstone Road station where the elevated road is due to cross the Western Railway tracks. Also, it will also do away with plans to have ramps in between.

The 22.5-km-long MTHL will go from Sewri in Central Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai and of this alignment, around 6.5km will be on the ground and the rest will be in the sea and the project is expected to be complete in around four and half to five years’ time.

MMRDA officials admit that the Worli- Sewri elevated road is a challenge to construct as it will cross the railway lines at least thrice. The road will allow people from south Mumbai and the Western suburbs to travel seamlessly to places like Pune, Goa and Bangalore by helping save around one and half hour of commuting time by using the MTHL instead of the Thane creek bridge.