Advertisement
The Vidyavihar East-West connector, expected to ease travel between Ghatkopar, Kurla, and Vidyavihar, has been delayed once again due to unresolved rehabilitation work on the western side. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation shifted the deadline from the earlier target to June 2026, marking the project's third extension. Cost estimates have risen sharply to nearly INR 179 crore from the original INR 99.98 crore, mainly because of prolonged demolition work and necessary design changes. Although rehabilitation hurdles have reportedly been resolved, only a fraction of the required structures on the western side have been cleared so far.
The Vidyavihar East-West connector, a project taken up in 2016 to improve connectivity between Ghatkopar, Kurla, and Vidyavihar, has run into another delay. BMC shifted the completion deadline to June 2026 after rehabilitation and demolition work on the western side continued to move slower than expected. This marks the third extension for a project that was initially planned with fewer complications. Advertisement
Officials explained that a commercial structure on the western side required formal rehabilitation, which held up the process for years. They stated that this hurdle has now been addressed, but the pace of demolition remains uneven. Of the 23 structures marked for removal on the eastern side, all have already been cleared. On the western side, however, only 32 of the 103 identified structures have been demolished, indicating the scale of pending work.
The repeated delays have pushed the project's cost up significantly. The original budget of INR 99.98 crore has now risen to INR 178.93 crore, with authorities noting that further increases cannot be ruled out because of mandatory design changes and prolonged on-ground challenges.
A major component of the project is a 120-metre girder planned to cross the railway tracks near Vidyavihar station. This design removes the need for supporting pillars on the tracks, an important requirement for railway permissions and smooth operations. The full bridge spans 612 metres in length and 17.50 metres in width, with two lanes, footpaths, and slip roads of 7.5 metres on each side. Once completed, it will link Rajawadi junction in the east to Vidya Vihar station Road in the west.
The travel time between Vidyavihar East and West currently exceeds 30 minutes during peak hours. With the connector in place, the journey is expected to reduce to around 10-15 minutes, offering meaningful relief for daily commuters across nearby suburbs.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
