The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in coordination with the suburban collector’s office, has demolished nearly 40 unauthorised slum structures built on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) land in Lokhandwala, clearing the path for the long-delayed vehicular bridge that will connect Yari Road to SVP Nagar. The demolition marks a decisive step towards reviving an infrastructure project that has been stalled for over two decades due to encroachments and legal hurdles.
The bridge, first proposed in 2002, remained in limbo until the civic body floated a ₹42-crore construction tender in November 2023. Once completed, the bridge is expected to cut travel time between Yari Road and SVP Nagar from 35 minutes to just five, significantly easing congestion across the densely populated Versova–Lokhandwala belt. According to civic officials, the demolition was long overdue as illegal settlements on collector land had halted piling work and alignment marking for the bridge. After police protection was arranged, the coordinated drive was executed successfully, and the area has now been barricaded for the next phase of construction.
Urban development experts have described the clearance as both a civic and environmental necessity. Decades of unregulated construction had expanded into mangrove-rich coastal land, intensifying ecological stress along the Oshiwara–Lokhandwala stretch. Environmentalists believe that the controlled clearance, coupled with mangrove preservation measures, can help restore the region’s coastal balance while also enabling mobility infrastructure that reduces carbon emissions through smoother traffic flow. Residents’ groups have largely welcomed the move, calling it a “major civic breakthrough.” Representatives of local citizen associations said the demolition would accelerate project timelines and provide much-needed relief to commuters struggling with bottlenecks in the Andheri–Versova corridor. Many residents also highlighted that the new bridge would become a critical feeder link to the upcoming Versova–Bandra Sea Link (VBSL), enhancing last-mile connectivity for western suburbs.
However, not all voices have been supportive. Activists and slum dwellers have alleged that the demolition violated provisions of the Slum Areas Act, 1971, claiming residents were not given adequate opportunity to prove eligibility for rehabilitation. Representatives from housing rights groups argued that while infrastructure development is important, it must not come at the cost of displaced families who lack secure housing alternatives. Officials have maintained that the structures were unauthorised and situated on CRZ land where construction is prohibited. The civic body has stated that necessary permissions were obtained and that the bridge construction will adhere to all environmental and urban planning norms.
The project, spanning 393 metres with a steel arch bridge across Kavathe Creek, is expected to be completed within 18 months. Once operational, it promises to reshape local connectivity while symbolising the civic resolve to balance urban growth with environmental responsibility.
Also Read : Mumbai Toll Plaza Relocation Plan Rejected By NHAI Stalling Dahisar Traffic Decongestion Efforts
