Fadnavis opens three new Mumbai flyovers, including rebuilt Sion bridge, to the public

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday virtually inaugurated three flyovers in Mumbai. They include two road overbridges near Sion and Vidyavihar stations, and a flyover on the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) aims to improve connectivity in the city and cut travel time.

The inauguration was held from Varsha, the Chief Minister's official residence. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar and other dignitaries were present. Speaking at the event, Fadnavis said infrastructure work should make life easier for Mumbaikars: congestion should ease, travel time should be saved, and the city's eastern and western suburbs, as well as its northern and southern parts, should be better connected.

Fadnavis directed the BMC to complete ongoing projects within the set time without compromising on quality. He also said obstacles should be removed and coordination between agencies improved so that work is not delayed.

According to the Chief Minister, Mumbai is the economic capital of Maharashtra and a major engine of the country's economic growth. The city's planning should therefore keep in mind the needs of the next 25 to 50 years. The Mumbai Coastal Road, concrete roads, flyovers and tunnels are not separate works, he said, and should be seen as parts of one connected transport network. He said the focus is on easing traffic bottlenecks and cutting travel time between different parts of the city, as well as improving road and rail connectivity.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said the three flyovers would save the precious time people lose in traffic. She said the Sion bridge was 112 years old, dating from the British era, and had been closed for safety reasons. Engineers of Central Railway and the BMC rebuilt it and opened it four months ahead of schedule.

Tawde said travel between the two sides of Vidyavihar used to take about 30 minutes in congestion, and can now be done in about 10 minutes. The flyover on the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road will strengthen connectivity between Mumbai's eastern and western suburbs. She said the BMC is also focusing on pothole-free roads, pedestrian safety under its "Pedestrian First" policy, and protecting the environment through the "Green Mumbai" initiative.

Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi said the three projects would ease travel and, with shorter journeys, save fuel. He spoke of the difficulties of people travelling from Dahisar to other parts of Mumbai, where a journey can sometimes take up to two hours. According to him, the BMC has taken up connecting roads, bridges and underground tunnel projects to resolve such problems.

BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the three projects would strengthen Mumbai's transport network and give people safer and more convenient travel. She said the corporation is building roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure for the needs of a fast-growing metropolis, with an emphasis on reducing congestion and improving connectivity.

State ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Ashish Shelar, MPs Anil Desai and Ravindra Waikar, MLA Amit Satam and other elected representatives attended the event. Senior officials, including Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar, were present at Varsha. Other civic officials and engineers joined virtually.