Proposed Peddar Road flyover becomes shorter, smarter

In what may boost one of the city’s most delayed projects, the state is considering constructing a short flyover on Peddar Road, coupled with a system of one-way realignments on the Babulnath–Sukhsagar–Girgaum Chowpatty stretch, to ease traffic congestion on the arterial road.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had earlier called for bids for the flyover, which is being opposed by locals.

As per the original plan, the flyover was to be 4.2km-long, starting near the Haji Ali junction and ending at Tambe Chowk near Wilson College at Girgaum Chowpatty. However, officials claim that a shorter flyover will cause less disruptions during construction and will be less time-consuming and expensive.

“There is an emerging view that a short flyover needs to be constructed instead of a longer one… there is no point in taking the flyover to Marine Drive,” a senior official told dna, adding that it was necessary to cover the Haji Ali, Cadbury and Gamadia Road junctions, which see maximum traffic congestion.

The official said they were considering starting the flyover before the Haji Ali junction near Lala Lajpatrai College, and while the north-bound corridor will land near Gamadia junction, the south-bound lane will end slightly ahead near the HSBC bank ATM to “take care of all conflict points.”

The Prempuri Ashram junction–Sukhsagar–Chowpatty route is proposed to be one-way, and so are the Chowpatty–Prempuri Ashram and Chowpatty–Reliance Jewels showroom stretches.

“The one-way will help us install street furniture and enable parking” said the official.

He added that a shorter flyover would reduce the objections of the traffic police as it would lead to lesser disruptions on the VIP road.

“We are trying to bring everyone on board. The civil society, traffic police and MSRDC have divergent views, the Mumbai Transformation Support Unit (MTSU) is trying to reconcile these views so that work can start,” said BC Khatua, project director, MTSU, which is pursuing the proposal.

The controversial project was conceived nearly a 15 years ago but was put on the back burner due to stiff opposition from celebrity residents like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, apart from locals, making it one of the most delayed projects in the city.

The new plan
The proposed flyover will begin before the Haji Ali junction near the Lala Lajpatrai College, and while the north-bound corridor will land near Gamadia junction, the south-bound lane will end slightly ahead, near the HSBC bank ATM. This is expected to ease traffic congestion on the arterial road.