The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is considering scrapping the proposed elevated flyover connecting Grant Road to Orange Gate.
This INR 1,329 crore project, designed to ease traffic congestion in one of Mumbai’s busiest corridors, faces cancellation due to overlapping routes with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) underground tunnel project. The MMRDA’s ambitious tunnel project, designed to run from Marine Drive to Orange Gate, has emerged as the key factor behind this reconsideration. The 4.46-kilometre-long tunnel, set to stretch around 40 metres below ground, will feature two car lanes and an emergency lane, aimed at providing seamless connectivity without disrupting surface-level traffic flow. The tunnel is part of a larger initiative to decongest Mumbai’s road network and reduce the city’s dependence on overground infrastructure.
Given the tunnel’s alignment, which closely overlaps with the proposed flyover’s route, officials have raised concerns about the redundancy of building both structures. Additionally, the complexity of land acquisition for the flyover, which would pass through densely populated areas, poses further challenges. Unlike the flyover, the underground tunnel avoids such issues, offering a more sustainable and less disruptive solution to Mumbai’s traffic woes. The Grant Road–Orange Gate flyover was initially conceived to cover a span of 5.6 kilometres, linking Grant Road in South Mumbai with the Eastern Freeway near P D Mello Road. Designed as a cable-stayed bridge with a dispersal arm, the flyover promised to cut travel time drastically—from the current 45 minutes to just five to seven minutes—offering a significant boost to commuter efficiency.
However, the tunnel’s potential to achieve similar, if not better, outcomes without the environmental and social costs associated with constructing a flyover has shifted the city’s focus. Officials involved in the discussions have noted that while the flyover was expected to ease congestion, the tunnel could deliver comparable benefits with reduced impact on local communities and urban landscapes. The flyover project, which had advanced through the tendering process since May 2023, was awarded to a joint venture of prominent infrastructure firms in March of the previous year. Soil testing for the project began in November, marking the initial stages of groundwork before the recent reconsideration. The tunnel project, meanwhile, has been awarded to a major construction firm with plans to commence work shortly.
Experts and municipal officials are currently engaged in discussions to finalise the decision, with key stakeholders from the MMRDA and the traffic police actively participating. The outcome of these talks will significantly influence Mumbai’s future urban mobility strategies. Environmental experts have lauded the potential cancellation of the flyover, citing its alignment with sustainable urban development goals. The project’s cancellation could pave the way for a more eco-friendly and less intrusive urban transport network, focusing on underground solutions that minimise land use and preserve green spaces. Furthermore, this move resonates with the city’s broader goals of achieving zero net carbon emissions and fostering equitable, gender-neutral urban spaces. By prioritising underground infrastructure over elevated structures, Mumbai could set a precedent for sustainable urban planning in India.
As the city grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, the BMC’s decision reflects an evolving approach to infrastructure development—one that balances the need for connectivity with environmental responsibility and community well-being. While the final decision awaits, the shift in focus towards underground solutions underscores a critical turning point in Mumbai’s journey towards becoming a more sustainable and resilient city.
BMC Plans to Cancel Grant Road Flyover Project
