dna special: MMRDA drafts 3 plans to decongest Chheda Nagar junction

Driving through the congested Chheda Nagar junction along the Eastern Express Highway may soon be less of an ordeal. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning a slew of constructions in the area to 'decongest and ease' traffic movement between Mumbai and Thane as well as towards Navi Mumbai.

What does MMRDA plan to do?
The MMRDA's grand plans include the construction of three flyovers and an underpass at the existing junction, which already has a flyover and a vehicular subway. The three flyovers will connect: Kurla to Thane, Navi Mumbai to Thane, and Ghatkopar to Navi Mumbai. The underpass will connect Kurla to Navi Mumbai.
The MMRDA has chalked out three concept plans keeping in mind the flyovers and underpass to ease out traffic movement at the Chheda Nagar junction. One of these will be selected for implementation at a budget of an estimated Rs 400 crore.

When will the plan be finalised?
"At the moment, a concept plan has been prepared and the project is in its initial stages. It will take another six months to finalise the plan. Consultants appointed by us have begun to prepare a final plan. They are currently also doing a traffic study on the number of vehicles using the junction," said a senior MMRDA official.

Option 1:
Motorists heading towards Navi Mumbai from the Eastern Express Highway would have to enter the underpass at Chheda Nagar junction to reach the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road. On the other hand, those coming from Mankhurd and heading towards Thane will have to go up a flyover to turn right. Traffic coming from the Thane-end and going towards Navi Mumbai too will have to climb onto the flyover to take a left. Those heading to Thane from Chembur's Suman Nagar junction will find themselves on a new flyover that will be erected by demolishing the existing vehicular subway. This flyover will be built next to the middle of the road.

Option 2:
All the turns and plans would remain the same as option 1, apart from the alignment of the flyover connecting north-bound traffic coming from south Mumbai. The bridge would come up on the service road instead. The landing of the flyover coming from Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road and turning towards Thane, which will go on to the second deck (above the existing north-south flyover) would shift to the median instead of service road (as planned under option 1).

Option 3:
The third alternative has the least possibility of being converted into reality. The Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road to the Thane connector would take a detour. As per the plans, the bridge would begin from the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, take a left turn (towards Amar Mahal) to make a U-turn where the existing south-bound bridge lands, and finally head towards Thane, only to make a landing on the service road. The rest of the plans of two other flyovers and an underpass would remain the same (as per option 1).