The Maharashtra Public Works Department has decided to demolish the Turbhe flyover on the Sion–Panvel Highway and rebuild it, following years of recurring road damage, structural complaints and repeated repair work, according to a report by Loksatta – Navi Mumbai.
The flyover connects the Sanpada–Turbhe area and is an important link for traffic travelling between Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Panvel. The decision is expected to require traffic planning on a route that carries substantial daily movement between the three urban areas.
The bridge was constructed in the 1990s and was opened to traffic around 1994. According to the report, concerns about its construction quality emerged within a few years of completion. Problems reported over time included cavities on the deck, potholes, damaged expansion joints and deterioration of the concrete structure.
The Public Works Department carried out repairs and strengthening work at different stages. However, the road surface reportedly continued to develop potholes, particularly during the monsoon. The repeated deterioration led to continuing expenditure on repairs and renewed complaints about the flyover’s construction quality.
The report also recalls that a section of the flyover developed a breach within about a decade of its construction. The then deputy chief minister and public works minister, Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, inspected the structure and ordered an inquiry into its construction, according to the report.
The flyover’s condition has operational implications for traffic on the Sion–Panvel Highway. Vehicle volumes rise further during the Ganesh festival period, when large numbers of vehicles travel from Mumbai and its suburbs towards Konkan. The condition of the bridge and the management of traffic around it therefore become more significant during periods of increased movement.
The department’s decision replaces the cycle of repeated repairs with a plan to remove the existing structure and build a new flyover at the same location. The report indicates that work on the new bridge has begun, but does not provide details of the project’s cost, construction schedule, design, demolition date or the full diversion plan.
Further traffic arrangements and implementation details will determine how vehicles are managed around the Sanpada–Turbhe section while demolition and reconstruction proceed.
