The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has floated two separate tenders worth a combined Rs 1.29 billion to carry out improvement works on the Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway using a specialised civil engineering technique known as microsurfacing.

According to civic officials, a total stretch of 15.4 km across the two arterial roads will be resurfaced, with the cost for each kilometre estimated at around Rs 84.1 million. The move follows directions issued last month by Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal to undertake road surfacing works across the city.

The WEH and EEH are key north–south corridors connecting Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs. As per tender documents, the BMC will spend about Rs 0.69 billion on resurfacing works along the WEH and Rs 0.60 billion on the EEH. The WEH has a total length of 25.33 km, while the EEH spans 23.5 km.

A senior civic official said resurfacing on the EEH will cover a 7.9 km stretch from Kamraj Nagar in Ghatkopar to Amar Mahal in Chembur. On the WEH, the works will span 7.5 km between Oberoi Mall Junction in Goregaon and Magathane in Borivali.

The official noted that the WEH and EEH were earlier under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and were taken over by the BMC in 2023. So far, only about 30 per cent of the total length of the two highways has been resurfaced, with the remaining 70 per cent yet to be addressed. The current microsurfacing programme aims to cover around 7.5 km on each highway, with completion targeted within a year.

Microsurfacing involves applying a mix of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, water and additives over worn road surfaces. The technique helps extend road life by sealing cracks, improving surface friction and preventing further deterioration. The BMC plans to undertake similar patch-wise repairs on both highways every year to maintain smooth and even road conditions.

The official added that microsurfacing is a cost-effective solution, with an average thickness of about 8 mm, compared with conventional asphalt layers that range between 25 mm and 40 mm. Undertaking repairs in phases, rather than resurfacing the entire highways at once, is expected to reduce costs and minimise traffic disruption on two of Mumbai’s busiest roads.