The Metro construction in the city has significantly improved local infrastructure. Almost all road sections temporarily used for Phase I of the Metro 3 station work have now been restored. Roads surrounding Marol, Santacruz, and BKC were the most impacted among the 10 stations in this phase. While road barricades have been removed, minor surface work in a few areas is ongoing and expected to conclude soon. “Old facilities, including street furniture and pavements, are being reinstated,” said MMRCL Managing Director Ashwini Bhide. “Roads along the Aarey-BKC stretch have already been restored, and similar efforts are underway for the remaining route from Dharavi to Cuffe Parade.” One of the main challenges remains at BKC, where road restoration has been slower due to ongoing civil work. Bhide noted that improvements are being made and stated, “As the civil work progresses, we are clearing the roads in this area.” The MMRCL plans to replace the steel deck currently at BKC with a concrete surface, a process expected to take two to three weeks. Despite this, traffic flow in the area has seen improvements. The construction of the 33.5 km underground Metro 3 corridor, which used a combination of the cut-and-cover method and other technologies at 19 stations, impacted about 11 km of roadways, affecting a total of 97,000 square meters of road surface. This construction method involves excavating stretches of roads, which are then reinstated after work is completed. While the MMRCL aimed to minimise disruptions to the city’s road network, some areas were blocked to create shafts for launching tunnel boring machines. Roadwork in Girgaum has reached a critical stage along the Phase II stretch, as construction began later than planned. A steel deck has been installed in the area, and road restrictions remain. In Worli, particularly along Acharya Atre Marg, road handover has been delayed due to multiple underground utilities. The MMRCL expects civil work for Phase II to be completed by December, after which road restoration will follow in a phased manner. Reassuring residents, Bhide stated, “All trees removed during construction are being replanted at their original locations near each station. Additionally, facilities provided outside the stations will be maintained by Metro 3.” (ET)