Two vital flyovers in Mumbai could soon be ready for use

Even as Mumbaikars fret and fume every day trying to manoeuvre their vehicles around the city’s innumerable infrastructure projects, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) brings us two reasons to cheer.

The authority has claimed it has almost completed the work on two key flyovers - the Tulpule Chowk flyover near King’s Circle and the new Lalbaug flyover — by up to 70%. In a written statement, the authority has, however, refrained from declaring a final date of opening of the flyovers.

While the Tulpule Chowk flyover is 1.5 km; the new flyover at Lalbaug will be about 2.4 km. Both flyovers will have four lanes, says the press statement.

The Rs150-crore Lalbaug flyover will be 17 metres wide providing two Southbound and Northbound lanes each. The flyover is being constructed on a single pier system with the help of launching girder technology. While the single pier system affords more width on the road for traffic below the flyover, the launching girder technology eliminates the use of cranes, which not only slows down traffic but also involves a higher risk. This technology enables direct lifting of the trailer-transported segments.

The 72-crore, 1.5km King’s Circle-Tulpule Chowk flyover will also be 17 metres wide. While the southbound lanes will be connected with the existing Nanalal Bridge, the northbound lanes are being constructed anew.

Forty per cent of the segments of the flyover are already in place. The remaining two flyovers, at Sion Hospital and Hindmata, are already operational.