The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is poised to initiate extensive structural repairs on flyovers along Mumbai’s Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Western Express Highway (WEH), following urgent audits by two premier engineering institutes, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI).
These audits were commissioned to assess the safety and durability of key infrastructure in Mumbai, resulting in a comprehensive repair plan for several critical bridges and flyovers. As per the audits, BMC will invest ₹26.43 crore in the structural repair of six bridges in the eastern suburbs. This includes major strengthening works recommended for Chembur’s Annabhau Sathe flyover and Mulund’s Navghar flyover on the EEH. These urgent repairs are crucial to maintaining traffic flow and ensuring commuter safety along these busy routes.
Following these recommendations, the BMC has undertaken additional surveys of bridges and subways in the eastern suburbs to identify other structures requiring immediate attention. As a result, repairs are planned for the Annabhau Sathe flyover, Navghar flyover, Amar Mahal flyover, and other critical infrastructures. The civic body is also set to upgrade subways at the Sion-Panvel Highway and Maharashtra Nagar, in addition to installing crash barriers at several Rail Over Bridges (ROBs). The initiative comes in the wake of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) transferring control of these major roads to the BMC in 2022.
The handover has placed the responsibility of maintaining these key arterial roads on the civic authority, prompting an urgent need for inspections and remedial action. On the Western Express Highway (WEH), the VJTI audit highlighted the necessity for repairs on six bridges, prompting the BMC to float tenders for these minor works, with an estimated cost ranging between ₹12-13 crore. Although the tender for the EEH repairs has already been awarded, the WEH repairs are expected to commence shortly after the issuance of work orders. This repair initiative is part of a larger strategy by the BMC to ensure that the city’s vital transport corridors remain safe and structurally sound.
With the ongoing growth of Mumbai’s population and vehicular traffic, maintaining the integrity of these highways is essential to preventing bottlenecks and mitigating the risk of accidents caused by infrastructure failure. As the BMC prepares to embark on these repairs, commuters are advised to stay updated on potential traffic diversions and delays along these highways. The municipal body is expected to issue regular notifications to ensure that the public is well-informed of the progress and any impacts these works may have on daily travel. This focused effort by the BMC underscores the critical need for regular infrastructure assessments and timely interventions to enhance the safety and efficiency of Mumbai’s road network.
