After receiving flak for failing to throw open the Eastern Freeway -- which slashes travel time between south Mumbai and eastern suburbs to less than half an hour — till the VIPs make time to inaugurate it (No VIP, no Freeway, June 6), officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) have finally decided to throw open the Eastern Freeway after it is inaugurated by CM Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday.

Easing traffic woes: The 13.59-km signal-free freeway will reduce the travel time between Shivaji Chowk in Chembur and Orange Gate in south Mumbai by half; (Inset) MiD DAY’s report on June 6. Pic/Abhinav Kocharekar