The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has secured preliminary approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change for the construction of a new bridge connecting Lokhandwala and Yari Road in Andheri.
This development promises to revolutionise local transport, significantly reducing travel time between the two areas from the current 45 minutes to a mere five minutes. The new bridge, expected to cost INR 42 crore, will span 393.2 metres across Kavathe Creek, featuring a prominent 110-metre single-span steel arch over the water. The approach roads will extend 166 metres from the Yari Road side and 117 metres from the Lokhandwala side. The bridge is poised to enhance connectivity for residents, particularly benefiting those travelling to and from Versova once the Versova-Bandra Sea Link becomes operational.
The journey towards realising this project has been protracted. First proposed in 2002, the bridge project faced numerous hurdles, including environmental concerns. In 2014, the BMC invited tenders for the project, originally estimated at INR 17 crore. However, local environmental groups raised alarms about potential damage to the nearby 0.21-hectare mangrove forest, prompting a legal challenge to halt the construction.
The legal entanglements persisted for several years, culminating in the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the petition against the project last year. This judicial clearance has paved the way for the latest environmental approval, allowing the BMC to move forward with construction, provided that wildlife disturbances are mitigated and that adequate replanting measures are implemented. This bridge is anticipated to alleviate traffic congestion in the Lokhandwala area and offer a more efficient route for residents of Versova, complementing the benefits of the upcoming Versova-Bandra Sea Link.
