Blueprint cancels plans to construct 1 flyover in Andheri

Residents of Andheri may lose out on a faster mode of travel as the proposed development plan has dropped the idea of constructing a flyover that was proposed in the earlier plan.

Unsure of its fate, the bridges department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stopped the feasibility study of a flyover from Amarnath Towers area to Jankidevi School in Andheri (West).

Apart from this one, the 1991 DP had proposal two other flyovers — one connecting Yari Road (Fisheries Institute) to Lokhandwala lake, and another connecting Amarnath Towers area to the Mhada Road.

The three flyovers would have reduced travel time from Yari Road to traffic-prone Lokhandwala or to Link road to almost 5 minutes from the current 20 minutes.

Residents of Yari Road and Versova currently have to take a longer route and travel almost 2 to 2.5km to get to Link Road. These bridges could have reduced the distance to about 500m.

However, the other two flyovers are still part of the new development plan.

BMC sources said the third flyover was dropped because they figured it would be difficult to get environmental clearance as it would have to be constructed through a stretch of mangroves.

However, an official involved in the development plan process said, “We found that the flyover that was not included in the DP was not really necessary. Two flyovers at such a short distance will be a waste. Also, getting clearance to build on mangrove land will be a big hurdle.”

SO Kori, chief engineer, bridges department, said, “The flyovers were proposed in the 1991 DP, but one of them was dropped from the new DP. We have not proceeded with its feasibility study.”