Engineering feat Mumbai Metro-4 Steel Span hoisted over Mulund junction with minimal traffic impact
Mumbai’s Metro Line 4 construction reached a key engineering milestone this weekend with the successful installation of a 56-metre-long steel span girder at the Sonapur junction in Mulund. The operation, carried out overnight in two phases, required temporary closure of the GMLR junction to traffic and involved precision lifting using heavy-duty cranes and multi-axle trailers.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Traffic Police coordinated the overnight shutdown from 10 pm on Saturday to 10 am on Sunday and again from 10 pm on Sunday to 7 am on Monday. The closure, though essential for safety, caused congestion and detours along one of the city’s busiest eastern corridors. Commuters were redirected via Village Road in Bhandup, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Road in Mulund West, and Subhash Nagar Road.
A senior project official from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said the steel span is part of a complex alignment designed to cross the GMLR intersection safely. “This marks an important stage in the Metro-4 alignment, enabling smoother connectivity between Kasarvadavali and Wadala,” the official noted.The Metro-4 corridor spanning 32.32 km aims to significantly reduce traffic load on the Eastern Express Highway and provide a faster, greener alternative to road-based commuting. Once operational, the line is expected to cut travel time between Thane and Wadala by nearly 50%, supporting the city’s long-term goal of building an integrated, low-emission public transport network.
Traffic officials said emergency vehicles were granted access during the closure, and all diversions were clearly signposted. They added that while the first phase of the span installation was completed smoothly, residual work such as welding and bolting may continue through controlled lane closures. “If any additional work remains, it will resume next weekend to minimise weekday disruptions,” an official said.To accommodate finishing works, one lane of the GMLR junction on LBS Road will remain closed intermittently from November 3 to December 31. The decision, according to civic engineers, ensures both safety and construction precision without extending the overall project timeline.
Urban transport analysts believe that while such closures inconvenience motorists temporarily, they are necessary investments in long-term mobility. Once complete, Metro Line 4 is expected to decongest the LBS Road corridor, support modal shift from private vehicles, and strengthen east-west connectivity across Mumbai’s suburbs.The operation at Sonapur reflects the increasing technical sophistication of Mumbai’s metro construction and the civic effort to balance infrastructure delivery with urban mobility needs a vital step toward building a more sustainable and accessible city.
