Mumbai’s eastern suburbs are set to experience significant traffic disruptions this weekend as the Bhandup–Sonapur Junction will remain closed for two days — November 1 and 2 — to facilitate the installation of a 56-metre-long steel span for the under-construction Metro Line 4. The closure, officials said, is essential to ensure the safe movement of heavy machinery and cranes required for the bridge-laying operation.
According to the city traffic authorities, vehicular movement will be halted at the junction between 10 pm on November 1 and 10 am on November 2, and again from 10 pm on November 2 to 7 am on November 3. Only emergency vehicles will be permitted during this period. If the work is not completed on schedule, a similar closure may be implemented the following weekend. The shutdown will particularly affect residents and commuters from Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, and Mulund — areas already strained by dense vehicular movement along the LBS corridor. Traffic diversions have been planned to ease congestion, with vehicles from Powai and JVLR heading towards Mulund to be rerouted through a 2.5-kilometre detour that rejoins LBS Road near Mulund West. Similarly, traffic from Mulund West will be diverted via the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and JVLR.
Officials have also indicated that one lane of LBS Road is likely to remain closed from November 3 to December 31, extending travel time during peak hours. This partial closure, lasting almost two months, will be required for continued construction work along the elevated Metro Line 4 alignment. The 32.32-kilometre-long Metro Line 4, running from Wadala to Kasarvadavali, is one of Mumbai’s largest ongoing urban mobility projects. Once operational, it will provide connectivity across 30 stations and link several major transit corridors — including the Eastern Express Highway, the suburban Central Railway, the Monorail, and upcoming Metro Lines 2B, 5, and 6. Urban transport planners say the project will significantly reduce travel time between south-central and north-eastern suburbs, cutting emissions and easing road congestion.
While the short-term traffic restrictions are expected to inconvenience thousands of daily commuters, officials have emphasised that these temporary measures are critical for long-term mobility gains. Transport experts argue that such closures, though disruptive, are necessary for building infrastructure that supports sustainable and low-carbon transport systems. “Metro Line 4 will play a major role in reducing private vehicle dependency and improving the city’s air quality over time,” said a senior transport expert. Residents have expressed concern about the recurring roadworks and detours that have become a constant feature of Mumbai’s evolving infrastructure landscape. However, officials maintain that coordinated efforts between the traffic department, metro authorities, and local administration will minimise disruption.
As Mumbai pushes forward with its metro expansion, the current road closure stands as a reminder of the city’s growing pains — the temporary cost of building a cleaner, faster, and more sustainable urban transport network.
Bhandup – Sonapur Junction To Stay Closed On November 1 And 2 For Metro Work
