Mumbai’s traffic woes could ease soon, but not without a stern warning from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In a decisive move, the civic body has imposed a final ₹50 lakh penalty on the contractor handling the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) flyover project due to significant delays.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar conducted a thorough site inspection on Wednesday at the flyover stretch between Dindoshi Court and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari. His findings revealed the contractor’s failure to adhere to the stipulated timeline, prompting immediate action.
The GMLR project is a cornerstone for alleviating congestion between Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs. Spanning four phases, Phase 3(A) features a 1.26 km elevated flyover and rotary, curving sharply at a 90-degree angle from Dindoshi Court near Ratnagiri Junction Hotel to its endpoint at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari.
Progress stands at 75%, with 31 pillars completed and 20 out of 30 spans finished. Remaining tasks include the last 10 spans, beam installation, deck slab casting, and approach road development. BMC aims to finish before the monsoon and open it to traffic by May 31, 2026.
Bangar expressed deep dissatisfaction over the sluggish pace, ordering the fine and directing the contractor to ramp up manpower and machinery. Additional hurdles at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari—drainage, sewage lines, and an Adani Power transformer—must be relocated urgently to complete the flyover landing road.
In a related inspection, Bangar visited the launching shaft excavation for twin tunnels in Goregaon. This advanced project employs Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). The shaft measures 200m long, 50m wide, and 30m deep; first-phase digging is done, and cradle work has begun. Cranes of 800 MT and 350 MT capacity are required—the smaller one is on site, the larger expected by late February.
This dual push underscores BMC’s commitment to timely infrastructure upgrades, promising smoother commutes for millions amid Mumbai’s relentless urban expansion.