Mumbai has taken another step towards improving everyday mobility by initiating a major maintenance programme for its two most critical road corridors. The city’s civic authority has invited bids worth ₹129 crore for microsurfacing works on the Western and Eastern Express Highways, aiming to enhance road durability, reduce disruptions, and improve commuter safety across the metropolitan region.
The tendering exercise covers select stretches of both express highways, which together handle several million vehicle movements daily. Officials said the intervention is designed as a preventive maintenance measure rather than a full-scale overhaul, allowing the city to maintain traffic flow while extending the life of existing road infrastructure. Under the plan, approximately ₹69 crore has been earmarked for resurfacing a 7.5-kilometre section of the Western Express Highway between the Goregaon and Borivali belt, while ₹60 crore has been allocated for a 7.9-kilometre stretch of the Eastern Express Highway linking Ghatkopar and Chembur. These corridors form Mumbai’s primary north–south spines, connecting residential suburbs with commercial and industrial zones.
Microsurfacing, a thin protective road treatment, is increasingly being used by urban authorities to address surface wear, improve skid resistance, and prevent water ingress without shutting down traffic lanes for long periods. Urban transport experts note that such techniques are particularly suited to dense cities like Mumbai, where prolonged closures can significantly disrupt economic activity and daily life. An official involved in the planning said the civic body has deliberately avoided full-width resurfacing in a single phase. “Comprehensive repairs on these highways would be expensive and cause severe congestion. By carrying out targeted works every year, the city can ensure smoother roads while keeping traffic moving,” the official explained.
Responsibility for maintaining the express highways shifted to the municipal corporation in 2023, marking a transition from regional oversight to city-level management. Since then, the civic body has focused on adopting lifecycle-based maintenance strategies that balance cost efficiency with commuter comfort. Beyond smoother rides, the move is also seen as aligning with broader sustainability goals. Well-maintained roads reduce vehicle idling, lower fuel consumption, and help curb emissions — an important consideration as Mumbai grapples with air quality challenges and climate pressures. Transport planners argue that incremental upgrades, when combined with public transport expansion and pedestrian-friendly design, can significantly improve urban liveability.
As Mumbai continues to invest in resilient infrastructure, officials say such maintenance-led approaches will become standard practice. The express highway works are expected to begin after tender finalisation, with authorities promising close monitoring to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
BMC Approves Rs 129 Crore Microsurfacing Projects On Express Highways
