Mith Chowky Flyover’s Southern Arm to Open Soon Without Ceremony
The long-awaited southern arm of the Mith Chowky Flyover in Malad (West) is set to be opened for vehicular movement soon, but this time without any fanfare. The decision to forgo an inaugural ceremony comes in response to the political clashes that followed the opening of the flyover’s first phase in October 2024. The inauguration event, which was attended by Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal, sparked a political scuffle between the Congress and BJP, as both parties claimed credit for the project.
The Mith Chowky Flyover is a T-shaped structure aimed at easing traffic congestion in the busy Malad region. The flyover consists of two main arms: the eastern arm, which was opened to the public in October, and the soon-to-be-opened southern arm. The eastern arm, originating near the Girdhar Park Bridge, extends over the Malad Creek and connects major traffic routes, including Malad Station and the Western Express Highway (WEH). The southern arm, once operational, will serve commuters traveling towards Infinity Mall, Andheri, Juhu, and Bandra, improving access to key destinations in Mumbai’s western suburbs.
The flyover’s completion is in its final stages, with tasks such as painting, road signage installation, and setting up traffic beams and lights slated to be completed in the next 2-3 days. However, civic authorities have decided to open the flyover quietly to avoid any political controversy. A senior civic official stated that no official event would be held for the opening, ensuring the focus remains on the completion of the infrastructure rather than political celebrations. Mith Chowky, notorious for its traffic snarls, is a crucial junction that handles heavy traffic from areas such as Madh Island, Kandivali, Borivali, Andheri, and Versova. The bottleneck often results in long wait times of up to 15 minutes during peak hours to navigate the 50-meter stretch.
Once the flyover becomes operational, travel time through the junction is expected to drop significantly to just three minutes, offering much-needed relief to commuters. The construction of the 800-meter T-shaped flyover, which began in April 2022, was a challenging task, particularly due to the proximity of the Metro 2A line running above it. The flyover is designed to accommodate only two-wheelers and light motor vehicles (LMVs), with buses and heavy vehicles restricted from using it. This development promises to alleviate the traffic woes at one of the busiest intersections in Mumbai and is expected to greatly improve the flow of vehicles in the western suburbs.
