The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to see a significant cost escalation in its ongoing Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) project. Civic officials are contemplating adding a third flyover arm to connect Maharashtra Nagar in Mankhurd. Currently, the BMC has floated a tender worth Rs 918 crore for constructing two elevated sections of the GMLR, but the third arm has not been included, as approval from the railway board is pending. If the third arm is added, it could increase the project’s overall cost by at least Rs 250 crore.
Officials have explained that the proposed third arm will begin at Maharashtra Nagar, but due to its proximity to railway land, a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the central railways is required. The current tender only covers the initial two arms, and once railway approval is granted, the BMC may either issue a separate tender or revise the existing rates through public notification.
Traffic Relief and Additional Challenges for BMC
The BMC's primary goal for the new flyover arms is to reduce severe traffic congestion at the T-Junction on the Sion-Panvel Highway. The two flyover arms are intended to streamline traffic between Vashi and Ghatkopar. However, the cost of these two arms alone is already 25% higher than the original GMLR flyover, which spanned 2.9 kilometers and was completed at a cost of Rs 732 crore in 2021. Meanwhile, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has raised concerns about the alignment of the flyovers. The current design could interfere with the proposed metro network that will connect Mumbai International Airport with Navi Mumbai International Airport. CIDCO has requested a realignment to avoid future conflicts, adding further complexity to the project.
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