Mumbai: 6th arterial road to connect city without outskirts

The five arterial roads connecting Greater Mumbai limits with its outskirts, are western express highway (Dahisar), LBS Road (Mulund), eastern expressway highway (Mulund), Airoli and Vashi. Now, there is a possibility of a sixth arterial road connecting Mumbai with its outskirts. This sixth road will be between Dahisar (West) and Bhayander (West).

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is in the process of hiring a consultancy firm to get a Detailed Project Report (DPR) done for the project.

"The idea is to have road on stilts from Dahisar (West) link road ends and connect it with Uttan road in Bhayander (West) just outside Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Ground," said M. S. Narkar, executive engineer of MMRDA. Stilt is being chosen due to presence of dense mangroves in between these two areas.

Clearances from Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) as well as Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) will be required as the proposed missing link road falls under Coastal Regulatory Zone I and II.

The road, when ready, will help in cutting down around 10 km of road commuting. Presently, motorists have to cross the rail over bridge to go to the western express highway to proceed ahead. Even those, who want to head to Bhayander and EsselWorld or Water Kingdom have to take detour via Kashimira. If this road is made, it will provide considerable saving of time and fossil fuel.

As part of plans at a later stage, the same link road from Bhayander will be extended to Naigaon-Nallasopara-Virar. This, however, will be done at much later stage. A creek bridge with a length of 5 km will have to be erected over Vasai Creek to have a link road up to Virar.

In order to meet with the additional vehicular rush, the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) will also have to widen their existing roads. The existing roads in Bhayander are narrow and congested and are unable to cope up with the increasing vehicular presence.

PROJECT: Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road
LENGTH: 5 kms
ESTIMATED COST: Rs160 kms (For at grade road, cost of stilts will be more)
LANES: 3+3 Lanes