A New Team to Fast-Track Mumbai's Versova-Dahisar Link Road

To strengthen oversight of the ambitious Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) project, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to deploy nearly 200 additional officers. The proposal is currently pending approval from Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.

The decision comes amid growing pressure on BMC’s Bridges Department, which is managing multiple large-scale infrastructure projects, including the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR), the Madh-Versova bridge, and several bridge reconstruction works.

The 20-km VDLR, with an estimated outlay of ₹16,621 crore, is a key component of Mumbai’s infrastructure acceleration plan under state government directives. It is designed to alleviate severe traffic congestion and will complement Phase II of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), which is being fast-tracked.

Following the model of Phase I—stretching 10.58 km from Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link—Phase II will also feature dedicated project teams, tunnels, a cable-stayed bridge, and strategically planned interchanges to improve north-south traffic flow across the city.

Further adding to Mumbai’s infrastructure momentum is the Dahisar-Bhayandar Elevated Road—a 5.6-km, 45-metre-wide corridor with a budget of ₹3,304 crore. Construction is slated to begin in August 2025, with completion targeted for December 2028. The project, which received environmental clearance last year, is expected to reduce travel time from 90–120 minutes to just 15–20 minutes and cut carbon emissions by up to 55% through significant fuel savings—advancing Mumbai’s sustainable mobility agenda.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.