The extension, which is expected to be opened in May, will allow those travelling towards Vile Parle via the WEH to bypass the Vakola signal.
The concreted portion dug up again by MMRDA, on Wednesday. Pic/Atul Kamble
While the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension over Western Express Highway (WEH) that allows motorists to access the road’s northbound carriageway is yet to be opened, authorities have dug up the concrete surface of the spot where the connector meets the highway. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is implementing the project, claims the ramp gradient was adjusted to facilitate access for a contractor’s vehicles involved in construction work.
The dug-up spot where the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road extension meets the Western Express Highway on April 23. Pics/Atul Kamble
On March 26, mid-day highlighted how the SCLR extension could inadvertently lead to traffic congestion as motorists would be using the arm as well as the road below to access the main carriageway of the WEH. The extension, which is expected to be opened in May, will allow those travelling towards Vile Parle via the WEH to bypass the Vakola signal.
When this reporter visited the spot where the extension meets the WEH last month, the cement concrete landing spot on the highway appeared intact. However, a few days ago, it was observed that the spot had been dug up, raising concerns among commuters.
Motorist Kunal Chaudhari said, “A few weeks ago, when I descended the Kalina-Vakola flyover and headed towards Vile Parle via the WEH, I observed that the landing section of the SCLR extension on the highway was complete. Around two days back, I was shocked to see that the cement concrete surface of the same portion had been dug up. What is the logic behind constructing a road and then digging it up?”
The section of the Western Express Highway, which is now excavated, on March 19. File pic
Wasim Shaikh, another motorist, said, “This section had been concreted a few weeks ago. What happened all of a sudden that it had to be dug up? Chances are high this was done because the construction had not been properly planned.”
History of the project
The SCLR extension work began in 2016 to address chronic traffic congestion near Kapadia Nagar-Kurla CST Road and the junction where Hans Bhugra Marg meets the WEH.
Currently, motorists travelling via the SCLR from Chembur and Bandra Kurla Complex towards Vile Parle or further north via the WEH must exit the SCLR at the Hans Bhugra Marg-WEH signal and proceed to the Vakola junction via the northbound carriageway.
Once the northbound SCLR arm passing over WEH is completed, motorists using SCLR will be able to bypass the traffic signals at both the Hans Bhugra Marg-WEH junction and the busy Vakola junction.
MMRDA Speak
Explaining why the road was dug, an MMRDA official said, “The construction of down ramp (A7) near Panbai International School was previously restricted to a length of 145 metres, as per instructions from the traffic department, due to the inconvenience that was being caused to service road traffic merging with the slip road. As a temporary measure, the ramp gradient was adjusted and constructed to facilitate access for the contractor’s construction vehicles. As we now approaching the project’s completion stage, we are undertaking the rectification of the ramp’s gradient by removing the casted PQC [pavement quality concrete] panel up to nine metres and extending the ramp to its full design length of 166 metres and merging in WEH, as originally specified. This will ensure a smoother merging of the ramp with WEH, smooth flow of traffic and proper functionality of the ramp as per the approved design.”
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