With the new seamless connectivity to the center of business from the Bandra Worli Sea Link and the airport, allowing the free movement of traffic at the Kalanagar Junction on the Western Express Highway, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, MMRDA, had planned the construction of two tunnels and a flyover. This would allow commuters to save 15 minutes on their transit time from and to the Bandra Kurla Complex. Regular travelers would find this new construction to be extremely beneficial.

Consultants of the authorities have suggested that a tunnel be dug out between BKC and BWSL and another between BKC and Kherwadi Junction which would later help better airport connectivity. A flyover from the Bandra rail overbridge near the BWSL which would bifurcate and end at BKC near Kalanagar and near the Dharavi side, has also been recommended.

The tunnel from BWSL to the BKC is expected to end at the Nandadeep Garden near the Kalanagar junction and would extend for a distance of 1.5 km while the tunnel from BKC and the Kherwadi junction would help in better connection to the airport and also the Western Express Highway.

The project is estimated to be projected at a cost of Rs 4000 cr while taking about an year and a half to be completed. The MMRDA authorities are pondering the technical aspects, such as the rapid decline in the height at the tunnel starting from BWSL near the Bandra rail over bridge, before coming to a final decision.

If the project is realized the busy Kalanagar junction would be freed of the traffic greatly. However, officials have also confirmed that the decision regarding the construction would be finalized by the infrastructure agency in less than a month.

(AW- Anil)