SCLR misses deadline; MMRDA increases project cost

The Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) project, spearheaded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), has faced delays and necessitated an extension of its completion deadline. The revised timeline for project conclusion and assessment has now been rescheduled to June 2024. As of the latest update from MMRDA, Phase 1 of the project, which encompasses Vakola Junction, Ambedkar Chowk, University Junction, and the BKC Junction connecting Kurla to the Vakola bridge elevated road, stands at an impressive 92% completion rate. The Phase 1 contract was initially awarded to JKumar Infra Projects Ltd in October 2016, with an estimated cost of Rs 449.19 crore. However, due to the project's expansion to include the crossing of Vakola Bridge on the Western Express Highway (second level), the cost subsequently escalated to Rs 645.95 crore. Presently, Phase 1 has undergone yet another cost revision, now standing at Rs 669.53 crore. MMRDA has attributed the challenges to the intricate geometry of the bridge, featuring a complex 100-degree curve, a 100-meter radius, and a mandatory span of 105 meters. Detailed designing revealed the need to alter the design from a cable-stayed bridge, and there were clashes with the metro 3 tunnel, necessitating further adjustments. The project's complexity and the necessity for adaptability have contributed to the project's timeline extension, underscoring the intricate nature of the infrastructure development.