Santacruz-Chembur Link Road Extension 95% Ready: Pre-Monsoon Opening Likely This May

The much-awaited extension of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR), which will finally connect it directly to the Western Express Highway (WEH), is now 95 per cent complete, as per a Hindustan Times (HT) report. According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the extension is expected to open by May. However, due to several delays since the project began in 2016, commuters remain cautious, hoping for an opening before the monsoon sets in.

The SCLR was first opened to traffic in 2014, giving Mumbai a much-needed link between the eastern and western suburbs. It stretches from Kapadia Nagar on CST Road in Kalina to the Amar Mahal junction in Chembur, along the Eastern Express Highway. It is widely used by people travelling to and from Navi Mumbai, the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), and other parts of the city.

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However, the original SCLR landing in Santacruz did not directly connect to the WEH. Instead, vehicles had to pass through the busy Vakola junction to reach the highway, causing major traffic delays, especially for those heading north on the WEH.

To solve this issue, the MMRDA began work in 2016 on a flyover extension towards the highway. The project faced several challenges, including a change in design to include a cable-stayed section, problems in acquiring land, and a long pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. When work resumed in 2024, the general elections once again slowed progress due to delays in getting traffic block permissions. These were only approved in December 2024. Meanwhile, the total cost of the project rose from Rs 450 crore to Rs 650 crore.

One of the most difficult parts of the project was the construction of a 215-metre-long cable-stayed bridge. This stretch is built on an Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) and curves sharply at a 70-degree angle, rising 25 metres above ground and passing nine metres above the Vakola flyover-making it a double-decker structure at this point. MMRDA has claimed that this is the first such steep cable-stayed section in all of Asia. A Y-shaped pylon has been built to hold the bridge in place. The deck was successfully launched in February 2025.

The new landing point will be near Panbai International School in Santacruz, giving travellers better access to the domestic airport as well. However, there are some concerns about possible traffic buildup at the landing spot, where vehicles from the Vakola flyover will also merge. Upadhyay noted that although congestion may increase, proper management by the traffic police, especially during peak hours, should help control the situation.

If opened on time, the extension is expected to significantly improve east-west travel in Mumbai and reduce travel time for thousands of commuters each day.