Put on the brakes: Once construction on the Malad flyover resumes, commuting will get even more difficult for the 10,000 vehicles that ply on the northbound section of the Western Express Highway every day. PIC/Shashank Rao

Brace yourself for more traffic jams, honking cars and pollution on the Western Express Highway (WEH), as work commences on the Malad flyover. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has sought permission from the traffic police to close two lanes on the WEH towards Borivli.

If they get the permission, there will be only three operational lanes for the nearly 10,000 vehicles plying on the northbound section of the WEH every day. Vehicles moving towards Borivli will be severely affected, as the width of the lanes is smaller on that side. However, S M Sabde, DCP, Traffic (suburbs), said he has yet to receive such a request. "I have not received the letter as yet. I will have to look at the specifications mentioned before taking a final decision," he said.

Though the work on the flyover has partly begun, a major portion of the work was held up, as a hill adjacent to the WEH had to be dug out. An MSRDC official said, "We will start work in full swing once the monsoon gets over." The MSRDC has also filled potholes on the stretch where the flyover will come up. It is expected to be completed by March 2009.

Work on this Rs 12-crore flyover was supposed to begin in November 2005 and be completed in a year.

However, the project got delayed because of rehabilitation issues and its cost escalated to Rs 26 crore. Two lanes on the WEH also had to be barricaded.