Mumbai News: ₹104 Crore Vikhroli East-West Connector 85% Complete, BMC Targets May 2025 Opening

Mumbai: The much-anticipated Vikhroli East-West Connector (Rail Over Bridge) is now in its final stages, with the remaining girders for the bridge arriving at the site. Currently, 85% of the bridge's work is complete, with the remaining 15% expected to be finished by next month.

Following this, the BMC has assured that the bridge will open for traffic by the end of May. Connecting the eastern and western suburbs, it will save time and fuel for drivers heading to Powai and benefit commuters from nearby areas, including Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, and Kanjurmarg, claims the civic officials.

The Connector, designed to link Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg (LBS Road) and the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), spans a total width of 12 meters and a length of 615 meters. Of this, 565 meters are being constructed by the BMC, while the remaining 50 meters will be built by the Railways. The bridge will feature girders weighing approximately 25 metric tons each, with lengths ranging from 25 to 30 meters.

These girders will be placed in three phases, with 6 girders in each phase, totaling 18 girders. The first phase, involving 6 girders, has been successfully completed, and work on the remaining phases is underway. Of the 19 pillars required for the bridge, 12 have been erected on the eastern side and 7 on the western side.

"The work on the eastern side of the bridge is 95% complete, while work on the western side is underway. The construction of the western side's approaches has been finished. The bridge curves near a school on the western side, where the installation of the 'deck slab' will take place. This task is technically challenging due to the intricate engineering involved, but it is expected to be completed within the next month," said a senior civic official.

The work order for the bridge was issued in 2018, with an initial completion deadline of October 2020. However, the project faced delays due to design changes, encroachment, land handover issues, and the pandemic. As a result, the deadline was extended multiple times—from May 2023 to December 2024, and now to May 2025.

After work resumed in 2022, the project’s cost rose to Rs 71.86 crore, with a 42-month extension. Further design changes, construction work, and obstacles like trees increased the cost to Rs 79.20 crore. A recent proposal by Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani indicates the cost has now reached Rs 104 crore.

Vikhroli bridge - length - 615-metre, width 12 metres

Modified estimated cost - Rs 104 crores.

Work extended - March 2021, May 2022 (due to covid), October 2022, May 2023.

New deadline : May 2025.