Mumbai’s transport network is witnessing a significant engineering milestone at Vikhroli’s Gandhi Nagar junction, where multiple layers of urban infrastructure are being integrated to accommodate the expanding metro system. The installation of a large steel span for Metro Line-4, undertaken above one of the city’s busiest east–west corridors, reflects the growing complexity of mobility planning in dense, built-up environments.
The ongoing operation involves placing a 62.7-metre steel girder weighing around 540 tonnes at a height of nearly 24 metres. The structure must be manoeuvred above the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) while maintaining clearance below the elevated Metro Line-6. This creates a unique four-tier configuration that includes the existing LBS Road at ground level, the JVLR flyover, Metro Line-6 and the upcoming Metro Line-4. Officials overseeing the work said the constrained site presented limited room for cranes and equipment, requiring detailed sequencing to avoid disruptions for commuters using the junction. As part of the plan, the installation has been divided into three stages: a 30-metre section over JVLR, followed by a 17-metre launch toward Vikhroli and a 15-metre extension toward Mulund. Each stage is being executed during carefully controlled windows to ensure safety while keeping traffic moving.
Transport planners note that such multilevel construction marks a shift in how large Indian cities must adapt their engineering strategies in response to growing urban density. With metro corridors now intersecting older arterial roads and flyovers, projects increasingly rely on vertical layering to add new capacity without acquiring additional land. A senior urban transport expert observed that these models “demonstrate the future of mobility planning for compact cities aiming to expand sustainable transit options without widening roads”. Metro Line-4, which will eventually run between Wadala and Kasarvadavali, is expected to deliver major connectivity benefits once fully operational. Phase II of the corridor, linking Cadbury Junction in Thane to Gandhi Nagar in Vikhroli, is scheduled for completion by December 2026. When operational, the line will provide a continuous rapid transit route from Gaimukh through Thane, Mulund and Kanjurmarg, offering commuters an alternative to heavily congested roads.
Officials emphasise that improved east–west connectivity in the region will support more equitable mobility by reducing travel costs, enhancing job access, and easing the dependence on private vehicles. In the long term, increased metro adoption could contribute to a lower-carbon transport ecosystem across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. As the steel span installation progresses, engineers will continue to balance precision construction with commuter safety. While challenges remain, the project underscores the city’s broader commitment to integrating sustainable, multimodal and space-efficient transport solutions within its complex urban fabric.
MMRDA Steps Up Four Layer Transport Construction With Vikhroli Steel Span Lift
