Mith Chowky Flyover’s Southern Arm to be opened with no ceremony

The southern arm of the T-shaped flyover at Mith Chowky in Malad is expected to be opened for vehicular traffic by January 13, according to officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A decision to forgo an inauguration ceremony has been made to avoid political conflicts, which had marred the opening of the first phase in 2024.

The flyover’s first phase had been inaugurated by Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal in October 2024. Following the event, banners crediting Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh for pitching the project had been placed on the flyover by his supporters. BJP workers had retaliated by displaying banners featuring Goyal’s image, claiming his efforts had expedited the project. These actions had led to a political altercation between the two parties. To prevent similar incidents, the upcoming opening will be conducted without any formal events. The new arm, which is intended to ease congestion at the busy Mith Chowky junction, is currently undergoing final preparations. Tasks such as painting road markings and installing traffic signals are being carried out and are expected to be completed by the weekend. It has been reported that vehicles will be allowed to use the new arm early next week.

The already operational “east-west” section of the flyover begins near Girdhar Park Bridge, spans over the Malad Creek, and ends near St. Joseph’s School. It has been catering to traffic heading towards Malad Station, the Western Express Highway (WEH), Kandivali, Malvani, and Madh Island. The soon-to-be-opened southern arm is expected to serve motorists traveling towards Infiniti Mall, Andheri, and Juhu. Due to its proximity to Metro Line 2-A, which runs above the flyover, only two-wheelers and light motor vehicles (LMVs) will be permitted on this section. Heavy vehicles and buses will continue to use the roads below.

Mith Chowky, which serves as a vital junction connecting Dahisar and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to Andheri, has been facing severe congestion, especially during peak hours. The 50-meter stretch near the junction currently takes 10-15 minutes to cross. With the new flyover arm, travel time is expected to be reduced to just three minutes, significantly improving traffic flow and commuting times in the area.