14.3.14

Santacruz-Chembur link road snippets


Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR)—India’s first double decker flyover—is expected to be opened by mid-April. The east-west corridor is expected to reduce travel time by 60 to 90 minutes from the Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had set a deadline of March 31 to open the flyover for traffic.
An MMRDA official said, “There are some minor work pending and the flyover will be opened for traffic by April 15.”
The official added, “It will enable commuters to travel from Santa Cruz to Chembur in just 15-20 minutes. Today, Mumbaikars require anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes to cross this stretch during peak hours.”
Commuters can take the Vakola junction road to reach the upper level of the double-decker flyover to reach the EEH directly with the help of Amar Mahal Junction flyover. They will take the lower level of the flyover and turn right to reach Kurla station and turn left to reach the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
SCLR is considered the most delayed project as it has taken more than 11 years to be completed. The project cost has increased to Rs.428 crore from the Rs.115 crore when the work began in 2005.
The official said, “The SCLR faced innumerable court cases, besides having to resettle 3,500 project-affected families from Gazi Nagar, Buddha Colony, Sable Nagar, Rahul Nagar and Indira Colony. This included residential, commercial and also religious structures.”

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