Mumbai’s civic body has given an in-principle nod to demolish the seven-year-old Veer Savarkar flyover in Goregaon to make way for a double-decker bridge under the next phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road project. The decision, though still awaiting final approval, is expected to ignite debate on urban planning priorities, cost efficiency, and traffic management in India’s financial capital.
The flyover, built at a cost of ₹27 crore, currently carries a heavy east–west traffic load, connecting the Radisson Hotel stretch to the Rustomjee Ozone residential complex. Its removal is seen as essential to link the upcoming Malad–Mindspace extension of the Coastal Road (North) with the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road through a double-decker bridge designed on a single pier structure. Officials from the municipal corporation confirmed that multiple alignment options were studied before arriving at this choice, citing long-term efficiency in handling both local and connector traffic. Preparatory works have already begun at the Dindoshi end, where piling has started for the extended connector. However, the actual demolition may be scheduled only after the monsoon, when fair-weather construction is feasible. Urban transport experts point out that the integration of new mobility infrastructure with existing roads must prioritise seamless traffic flow to avoid bottlenecks that have plagued other mega projects in the city.
Local communities remain apprehensive. Motorists fear prolonged congestion on the already burdened Western Express Highway, particularly during the demolition phase. Several civic activists and former representatives have highlighted concerns that dismantling a relatively new flyover—commissioned just seven years ago—reflects flaws in long-term planning. Comparisons are being drawn to the Gokhale–Barfiwala flyover misalignment fiasco of 2022, which became a national talking point on accountability in infrastructure design. Elected representatives from both ruling and opposition parties have voiced apprehensions about the disruption likely to spread beyond Goregaon into Malad and Dindoshi. They argue that alternatives such as structural modification rather than demolition should be considered to reduce disruption. Experts, however, stress that integrated urban mobility demands bold choices and timely execution, provided proper traffic diversions, public communication, and environmental safeguards are in place.
The proposed double-decker bridge is a part of the larger Coastal Road 2 project, which will extend connectivity from Versova to Dahisar. Planners believe that the elevated connector, once complete, could transform east–west commute options in north Mumbai by easing junction-level traffic conflicts and supporting seamless access to the Coastal Road spine. For now, the proposal symbolises the tension between short-term urban inconvenience and long-term mobility benefits. Whether Mumbai can execute this sensitive demolition without triggering chaos will serve as a litmus test for its ability to modernise infrastructure while protecting daily commuter interests.
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