Sources close to the development told mid-day that intermittent rains have delayed some finishing activities like painting, which can only be carried out during dry spells. However, if rainfall remains scattered, the extension may open before the end of August, possibly even on Independence Day. On July 27, MMRDA tweeted via its official X account
Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. File pic/Rane Ashish
Mumbai’s long-awaited northbound SCLR extension is finally on the verge of opening, promising a smoother ride for thousands of motorists and faster access to the airport. After years of delays and civil work complexities, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed all major construction on the Rs 650-crore Santacruz-Chembur Link Road flyover extension, an ambitious structure that passes over the Western Express Highway (WEH) and the Kalina-Vakola flyover.
An MMRDA official said, “MMRDA has successfully completed major civil works, including street lighting, resurfacing of the road, and load testing of the SCLR Phase-I extension passing over the WEH. Currently, the final phase, comprising painting, finishing touches, and removal of temporary staging structures, is underway. These steps are essential to ensure the long-term safety, durability, and aesthetics of the structure. MMRDA is committed to completing this work at the earliest and opening the flyover to the public very soon. We appreciate citizens’ patience as we work to deliver a safe and high-quality infrastructure asset for the city.”
Sources close to the development told mid-day that intermittent rains have delayed some finishing activities like painting, which can only be carried out during dry spells. However, if rainfall remains scattered, the extension may open before the end of August, possibly even on Independence Day. On July 27, MMRDA tweeted via its official X account:
“The Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) project is now 100 per cent structurally completed. Final activities, including signage installation, street lighting, painting and finishing, median landscaping, and removal of temporary cable-stay supports, are currently in progress. This game-changing infrastructure will significantly improve traffic flow and connectivity across Mumbai.”
The tweet added that MMRDA Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee recently visited the site for a detailed review. The SCLR extension work began in 2016 to address chronic congestion near the Kapadia Nagar-Kurla CST Road junction and the Hans Bhugra Marg-WEH intersection. At present, motorists travelling via SCLR from Chembur and BKC toward Vile Parle or further north via the WEH must exit SCLR at the Hans Bhugra Marg-WEH signal, proceed to the Vakola junction, and then continue on the northbound WEH.
Once operational, the elevated SCLR extension will allow motorists to bypass both the Hans Bhugra Marg-WEH and Vakola junction traffic signals entirely. The elevated connector includes India’s first sharp curvature span with an orthotropic steel deck supported by cable stays. The landing ramp, including safety walls, is now complete, and streetlamp installation is underway.
The orthotropic steel deck (OSD) weighs 1780 tonnes, spans 215 metres in length, and is 17.5 metres wide. The cable-stayed bridge stands 22 metres above the ground and 9 metres above the Vakola flyover. Currently, motorists using SCLR towards Vakola via WEH encounter heavy congestion near the junction due to signal delays and ongoing construction. Once completed, the bridge will enhance connectivity from the Vakola nullah to Panbai International School on WEH and provide faster access to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
