In an effort to alleviate the traffic congestion in the eastern suburbs, the Ghatkopar rail overbridge (ROB), a British-era structure, is set to be replaced by a new, wider overpass. Initially scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, the project’s deadline has now been extended to June 2027. As a result, commuters are pinning their hopes on the construction of an east-west crossing bridge at the nearby Vidyavihar and Vikhroli stations.

On May 7, 2025, a general view of the under-construction Ghatkopar bridge was shown, which connects the Western Express Highway and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. The 78-year-old Ghatkopar ROB came under scrutiny by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) following the Gokhale Bridge mishap, leading to structural audits of all bridges in Mumbai by IIT-Bombay in 2018. The audit revealed that the bridge was overloaded and required significant repairs. Consequently, the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), funded by the BMC, was tasked with the reconstruction project.

An MRIDC official explained that the bridge begins at the Golibar Road junction near LBS Marg on the Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road, extending to the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), linking Ghatkopar East to Ghatkopar West. The portion over the railway tracks will be a cable-stayed bridge, while the part over LBS Road will feature a bowstring steel span. This design will allow for long spans without the need for additional pillars that would contribute to further traffic congestion below. The bridge will also intersect with two metro lines and the bullet train.

Though work orders were issued in 2022, progress has been slow. The old bridge, which has two lanes in each direction, continues to operate after maintenance, though heavy vehicles have been restricted. This situation has caused significant issues, as Ajay Bagal, a local resident and advocate for a new Ghatkopar ROB, pointed out that BEST buses now have to take a longer route from Amar Mahal due to the restrictions on the old bridge. Additionally, heavy vehicles heading to Sakinaka also face similar problems.

The old bridge is set to be demolished once the right-hand lanes of the new bridge are near completion, expected in about a year. Traffic will be diverted onto these right-hand lanes while work continues on the left side. However, the primary issue lies with the approach roads, where encroachments are obstructing the required alignments. MRIDC has acknowledged this issue, stating that it is the responsibility of the BMC to remove these encroachments.

Bagal mentioned that shops and a recently constructed SRA building are blocking the west-side approach road, which is delaying the project. He expressed frustration, stating that by this time, the bridge's construction should have been nearly finished. While the bridges being built at Vikhroli and Vidyavihar will help alleviate some of the traffic load, he emphasized the significance of the Ghatkopar ROB, as it provides a direct route to Sakinaka and the international airport in one of the most congested areas of the city. Therefore, the bridge remains crucial to resolving the ongoing traffic problems.

News source: Hindustan Times