30 September,2026 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Ongoing work on the Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension. Pics/By Special Arrangement
The Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension has entered a key construction phase, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) beginning to erect precast segments above the busy Eastern Express Highway while traffic continues to move below. The first segment, weighing more than 90 tonnes, was launched at Pier P78 near Bhandup Pumping Station on Monday using a 115-metre-long mechanised Launching Gantry-01 (LG-01).
The operation marks the shift from foundation and pier construction to the erection of the elevated corridor's superstructure. The mechanised gantry allows the heavy segments to be lifted and positioned above the live traffic corridor with limited ground-level support.
13.9 km
Length of elevated corridor
6 lanes
3+3 lane configuration
Rs 2682 crore
Accepted contract amount
40 m
Typical span length
115 m
Length of Launching Gantry-01
106 tonnes
Maximum segment weight
1450 tonnes
Maximum span weight
The precast segments will be erected span by span and longitudinally post-tensioned to form the elevated structure
Cast
Precast segments are manufactured at the project casting yard
Lift
The launching gantry picks up the heavy segments
Position
Segments are placed between completed piers above the existing road
Post-tension
The segments are longitudinally post-tensioned to form complete spans
Repeat
The gantry advances along the corridor as construction progresses
According to MMRDA, LG-01 will progressively erect segments towards Mumbai. A second gantry, LG-02, will advance from Vikhroli towards Mumbai, while the Ground Support System will progress between Bhandup and Kanjurmarg towards Thane.
"LG-01 will progressively erect 1632 precast segments towards Mumbai, which will be longitudinally post-tensioned to form complete bridge spans. A second gantry (LG-02) will advance from Vikhroli towards Mumbai, while the Ground Support System (GSS) will progress between Bhandup and Kanjurmarg towards Thane," said MMRDA on X.
81% monopiles completed
19% group piles completed
51% piers completed
33% pier caps completed
135 precast segments cast, according to MMRDA
The project uses 2500-mm-diameter monopiles and a single-pier arrangement designed to reduce the construction footprint while allowing work to continue above the live traffic corridor.
The elevated corridor will run from Chedda Nagar on the Eastern Express Highway to Anand Nagar near Thane, passing through the eastern suburbs.
Four planned entry/exit points:
. Chedda Nagar
. Kanjurmarg
. Airoli Bridge
. Mulund Octroi Naka
Once completed, the corridor is expected to ease pressure on the Eastern Express Highway and improve connectivity between South Mumbai and Thane. MMRDA expects the journey between South Mumbai and Thane to take around 20-25 minutes. Earlier MMRDA material has put the expected travel time at around 25-30 minutes, so the final figure should be treated as an estimate.
