Mumbai, the commercial and financial nerve centre of India, faces a major problem of traffic, transportation, commuting due to inadequate infrastructural and other facilities. Due to chaotic traffic conditions, vehicular traffic on most of the roads is very slow. Many attempts have been made in the past to overcome the problem of road congestion but without much success. Finally a comprehensive project was thought of which will not only ease out the existing situation but also will act as guiding principle to control the ever increasing traffic menace for years to come. Thus came into existence Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)- a project that will enable smoother transportation in Mumbai.

MUTP is an ambitious project involving five major agencies for implementing this dream project. A Rs. 4526 crore MUTP is financed to the tune of Rs. 2602 crore by World Bank. It has commenced its operation in 2002 and it is expected to be completed by 2008, giving Mumbaikars the much needed relief from the overcrowding on suburban trains and chronic congestion on roads.

Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road and Santacruz Chembur link Road are among the east –west link roads recommended by various studies taken up earlier for improvement of road traffic system in the city of Mumbai and its suburbs. The world Bank has shown willingness to consider Jogeshwari Vikhroli link Road as a high priority project for financial assistance under the road component of MUTP. This project has also been selected by the World Bank as one of the demonstration projects for Resettlement & Rehabilitation(R&R). The MMRDA has actively persued this project since its inception. MMRDA appointed M/s. Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA) in association with MVA Asia Ltd., Consulting Engineering Services (I) Pvt. Ltd. and Transport and Planning Group for feasibility study, detailed engineering design and preparation of contract documents for this project under MUTP-II programme. The detailed project report, detailed engineering etc. for Jogeshwari Vikhroli link Road were prepared by the consultants in 1998 and was accepted by World Bank. Similarly the World Bank has also included construction of Santacruz Chembur Link Road for financial assistance under MUTP.These two mega projects involving Rs.335 crore (including R&R component) will largely ease out the commutation problems and act as link between the east & west corridor.

Earlier the projects of Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road and Santacruz Chembur Link Road were with PWD for implementation as per World Bank guide lines. Later on these works were entrusted to MSRDC for implementation as per World Bank guide lines and appointed MMRDA as nodal agency.

 

Total length of Jogeshwari Vikhroli link Road, connecting Western Express Highway and Eastern Express Highway, is 10.6 km. This is divided into 3 sections as under;

For execution purpose the work is divided into two parts viz, Phase-I comprising Section I&III and Phase-II comprising Section - II

• Widening of existing two lane asphalt road to 3+3 lane concrete road with central divider and 2.0m wide asphalted side shoulder on either side
• Widening existing Cross Drainage(CD) works and bridges to accommodate 4+4 lanes
• Flattening the existing steep gradients wherever found necessary to improve profile
• Introduction of a 3 lane flyover for Jogeshwari bound traffic at the junction of SEEPZ
• Introduction of two vehicular underpasses, one near SEEPZ junction in and the other near Hariyali village (near Eastern Express Highway) & one pedestrian underpass near Milind Nagar

Bid documents were prepared as per the guide lines of World Bank and Bids were invited on International Competetive Basis (ICB). The work is awarded to the lowest substantially responsive bidder after evaluation of bids as per the guide lines and due approval to the same of the World Bank.

The Project is completed and road is handed over to MCGM for further maintenance & operations.

The section-2, of 4.3 km from Saki-Vihar Road junction to LBS Marg junction, has already been widened by MCGM to unequal(divided) 4 lane concrete pavement except in a stretch of 1.2 km near IIT Powai, where the width is 11 m with side shoulders of 1.5m. MMRDA has taken up the feasibility and detailed engineering study of this section for improving to uniform cross section of 6 lanes. The feasibility study has been completed. Based on the findings of feasibility studies, the detailed engineering and project preparation is completed.Approved cost of work is 58.44 crores excluding cost of removal & rehabilitation of project affected persons. Approval of World Bank to the Bid Documents for Civil Works is likely to be received in the first week of April,2004. Evaluation of the Bids received for Construction Supervision Consultancy is in progress.

Widening of existing unequal 4 lane road to 6/8 lane concrete road with 2.5m wide foot path on one side and central divider including widening CD works, construction of two pedestrian subways, one vehicular subway, construction of 5m wide promenade on lake side along JVLR, Powai lake beautification including construction of retaining wall.

Work of two Flyovers, one at the junction of Saki-Vihar Road near L&T Powai works and the other at LBS Marg junction at Gandhi Nagar, Vikhroli has been taken up by MSRDC under the project of 50 Flyovers of MSRDC. The Flyover at Saki-Vihar Road junction near L&T Powai works is completed and opened to traffic.

Present Status of work: The work is completed & the procedure of handing over to MCGM is going on.