MMRDA nears completion of Mumbai’s 11 km signal-free Santacruz-Chembur Link Road

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA is nearing completion of Mumbairsquos 11 km signalfree SantacruzChembur Link Road SCLRAccording to an official statement the MMRDA reached a major milestone in completing the SCLR corridor with the successful installation of the final structural span between Bandra Kurla Complex BKC and VakolaThe entire 1088 km eastwest corridor is now close to becoming fully operational the statement saidIt said that this final stretch completes the last missing connection in the network bringing together multiple elevated roads and connectors into one continuous routeThe work was carried out over the Vakola Nullah bridge one of the most challenging locations due to limited space and ongoing trafficEngineers installed twin 54metre girders across two levels using heavyduty cranes Each span weighed around 358 tonnes and required careful planning and phased execution Despite the constraints the work was completed with strict safety measures and minimal disruption it saidFrom fragmented roads to unified corridorThe SCLR project developed in phases over the years is now being transformed into a seamless signalfree corridor of nearly 11 km officials saidOnce complete it will connect major routes and areas including the Eastern Express Highway EEHWestern Express Highway WEH BandraKurla Complex BKC and key neighbourhoods such as Santacruz Vakola Kalina Kurla and ChemburThe newly completed BKCVakola arm though shorter in length plays a crucial role in linking these sections and improving traffic flowBKCVakola Arm Specifications Total length 14 km 500 metres of 4lane elevated carriageway 900 metres of 2lane connecting armsReduced traffic congestionThe corridor is expected to significantly ease congestion across several busy parts of Mumbai It will allow smoother movement between the eastern and western suburbs while reducing travel time the officials saidBy distributing traffic across multiple elevated routes the project aims to reduce pressure on surface roads and eliminate key bottlenecksWhat leaders sayChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the completion of the final arm marks a major step towards faster and more reliable travel across the cityDeputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the corridor as a ldquolifelinerdquo for daily commuters noting that it connects important residential and commercial areasDr Sanjay Mukherjee IAS Metropolitan Commissioner MMRDA said This milestone is not just about completing a span but about completing an entire mobility network The BKCVakola arm plays a crucial role in integrating various elevated corridors and unlocking their full potential With this the SCLR corridor will function as a continuous highefficiency eastndashwest connector significantly improving travel across Mumbai