Vikhroli Road-Over-Bridge: From 1997 Plans To 2024 Delays – Will It Open Before Monsoon?

The Vikhroli road-over-bridge (ROB) in Mumbai, a project meant to ease east-west travel, has faced years of delays. Originally proposed in 1997 by the Central Railway, the project was later included in the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. However, disagreements between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the railways caused repeated setbacks.

Before the bridge, Vikhroli had a level crossing used by over a lakh pedestrians daily, leading to frequent accidents. The crossing was finally shut in 2011, forcing commuters to take long detours via Kanjurmarg or Ghatkopar. The BMC took over the project in 2012 but issued the work order only in April 2018, with an initial budget of Rs 45 crore. However, multiple issues, including land acquisition, encroachments, and design changes, caused significant delays. The bridge's design shifted from a pre-stressed concrete girder to a steel girder, further complicating construction. Work finally began in 2021, by which time costs had risen to Rs 97 crore.

Despite ongoing public pressure, key work is still pending. On the west side, three steel girders need to be fixed, slabs cast, and roadwork completed. The east side is nearly finished, with asphalt in progress. Officials aim to complete the railway section before the monsoon, hoping to open the bridge within months.

However, even with the bridge's completion, traffic congestion remains a concern. The connecting roads in Tagore Nagar and Kannamwar Nagar are narrow and unlikely to handle increased traffic. With more motorists expected to use the bridge, experts warn that without road widening, Vikhroli could face severe congestion in the future.