Mumbai — In a major infrastructure development aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion in Mumbai's western suburbs, the civic body has approved the construction of a bridge over the Poisar River that will directly connect Malad and Andheri, slashing travel time between the two bustling suburbs to approximately six minutes.
The ambitious project, estimated to cost around ₹224 crore, is expected to provide significant relief to commuters who currently endure lengthy detours through congested routes like the Link Road to travel between the neighboring areas.
Strategic Connectivity
The proposed bridge will run from behind Infinity Mall in Malad toward the Andheri back road, creating a direct arterial link that bypasses existing bottlenecks. The route has been strategically designed to provide the shortest possible connection between the two commercial and residential hubs.
Currently, commuters traveling between Malad and Andheri face considerable delays due to heavy traffic on connecting roads, particularly during peak hours. The new bridge is expected to transform connectivity and significantly reduce travel times for thousands of daily commuters.
Project Specifications
The structure will span approximately 400 metres in length and 35 metres in width, accommodating four lanes of traffic with two lanes designated for each direction. The substantial width is designed to handle high traffic volumes and prevent the bridge itself from becoming a bottleneck.
The engineering specifications reflect the civic body's vision of creating infrastructure that can serve the area's needs for decades to come, accommodating projected growth in vehicular traffic.
Environmental Considerations
The project involves crossing over approximately one hectare of mangrove patch and the Poisar river area, making environmental clearances a critical component of the approval process. The civic body will need to secure environmental approvals from relevant authorities before construction can commence.
Mangrove ecosystems are protected under environmental laws due to their ecological significance, and the project will likely require compensatory measures such as mangrove restoration or creation in alternative locations. Environmental impact assessments will evaluate the project's effects on local biodiversity and river ecology.
Traffic Congestion Relief Expected
Transportation experts believe the new bridge will provide substantial relief from traffic congestion that plagues Mumbai's western suburbs. By offering a direct alternative to longer routes like the Link Road, the bridge is expected to distribute traffic more evenly across multiple corridors.
The project aligns with Mumbai's broader infrastructure development strategy aimed at improving intra-city connectivity and reducing commute times for its growing population. Officials anticipate that the reduced travel time and improved connectivity will also boost economic activity in both Malad and Andheri.
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