Mumbai’s 650-metre Vidyavihar flyover linking Ramchandra Chemburkar Road in the east with Lal Bahadur Shastri Road in the west is scheduled to open to traffic on October 10, with the BMC completing major civil works and finalising noise-barrier installation.
The two-lane flyover will provide a direct east-west connection across the railway tracks near Vidyavihar station. The project includes a 100-metre bridge over the tracks, along with approach roads measuring 220 metres on the eastern side and 330 metres on the western side.
Additional municipal commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar inspected the flyover with traffic police officials and reviewed arrangements around the project site. He directed the BMC and traffic police to coordinate on measures needed to ensure safe and smooth movement once the structure is opened.
According to the BMC, painting, lighting, roadwork and other major finishing activities have been completed. Noise barriers are now being installed, an important final measure for residents living near the flyover and its approaches.
The project also includes changes to pedestrian access around Vidyavihar railway station. A connection has been provided from the flyover to the station’s footpaths. Ticket-window areas on both sides, the station master’s office and staircases have been reconstructed as part of the work.
A pedestrian pathway within the railway premises has also been connected to the service road through a staircase. These links are intended to integrate the new road connection with access routes used by rail commuters, although the BMC has not provided details of expected daily traffic volumes or travel-time savings.
Bangar instructed officials to install directional signboards and place barricades wherever required. Officials were also asked to coordinate with the traffic police on traffic regulation and to prevent congestion from building up on the approach roads during peak hours.
The opening will create an additional east-west crossing in an area where railway tracks divide local road movement. The immediate traffic impact will depend on how vehicles are channelled at the approaches and how effectively the BMC and traffic police manage peak-hour flows after the flyover becomes operational.
The BMC’s current schedule is for the flyover to be ready for traffic on October 10. Final noise-barrier work, signage, barricading and traffic-management arrangements remain the stated activities ahead of the opening.
