For nearly two years, driving between Malad and Kandivali on the Western Express Highway (WEH) has been a challenge because of the ongoing construction near the Akurli subway, which is being widened. The barricades reportedly cause very long delays for motorists.
As per reports, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to remove the barricades within a week in a major relief to motorists. However, the subway-widening project is expected to be completed by October.
Once the barricades are removed, drivers will gain access to an additional 1.5 lanes. Currently, the 1.5–2 mile stretch of the WEH between Malad (East) and Thakur Complex/Thakur Village and Samata Nagar Police Station takes between 20 to 40 minutes to pass.
The barricades have not only impacted traffic on the WEH but also on Akurli Road, which connects to Lokhandwala in Kandivali. They have also obstructed the Akurli underground subway system, which leads to the Kandivali railway station.
@MTPHereToHelp when should we expect the Akurli Road Subway reconstruction to finish which is causing regular bottlenecking on the Western Express Highway in Mumbai since over a year? pic.twitter.com/vC1WZGuE6c
— Anuj Daga (@anujdaga) August 21, 2024
Last week, local MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, along with union minister and Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal, MMRDA officials, and local residents, visited the construction site. Reports suggest that the cementing work is done, and curing is currently underway. The remaining 50% of the subway expansion work will be finished by next month.
The barricades were initially expected to be removed earlier. However, it was delayed due to the discovery of an underground gas pipeline. This pipeline, which is 300 mm in diameter, supplies gas to the WEH peripheral communities of Bandra and Dahisar.
The relocation of the pipeline began in June 2023, after receiving approval from authorities in November 2023, and was completed in April 2024.
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