Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has demolished 42 unauthorised slum structures at SVP Nagar in Andheri to clear land for the long-delayed bridge linking Lokhandwala Complex with Yari Road. The demolition, carried out jointly with the Mumbai Suburban Collector’s Office, marks a major breakthrough for the Rs 42-crore infrastructure project that had been stalled for nearly two decades due to encroachments and environmental objections.
According to civic officials, the demolition covered 41 residential structures and one unauthorised religious structure built on collector land. The BMC’s K West ward team executed the drive under heavy police protection, followed by immediate barricading of the cleared stretch by the civic body’s bridges department to facilitate commencement of construction work. Once completed, the proposed bridge is expected to drastically cut travel time between Lokhandwala and Yari Road from around 35 minutes to just 5 minutes, easing congestion in Andheri’s densely populated western corridor. The structure will also serve as a vital connector to the upcoming Versova–Bandra Sea Link (VBSL), offering a faster commute for residents of Versova, Oshiwara, and Yari Road.
The 393.2-metre-long bridge will include a 110-metre steel arch over the Kavathe Creek and approach roads measuring 166 metres on the Yari side and 117 metres on the Lokhandwala side. Initially conceived in 2002, the project languished in legal and environmental disputes for years. Environmental concerns were raised over its proposed alignment passing through a mangrove zone and the required removal of 48 mangrove trees. Several local groups petitioned the courts to halt the project, arguing it would harm the sensitive ecosystem. However, after the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the final petition in 2023, the BMC reissued tenders and awarded the construction contract, paving the way for groundwork to begin. Officials confirmed that all required permissions and mitigation measures for mangrove transplantation and creek protection have been incorporated as per environmental guidelines.
Civic engineers stated that the bridge will improve last-mile connectivity and promote equitable mobility across western Mumbai, aligning with the city’s broader vision for sustainable and decongested urban transport. They added that the project would integrate pedestrian pathways and eco-friendly construction norms to minimise environmental disruption during execution. For many local residents, the clearance marks a long-awaited step towards modern urban connectivity. Citizen groups have welcomed the move, saying the bridge will finally deliver on a decades-old promise of easing traffic chaos in Lokhandwala and surrounding neighbourhoods.
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