There's hope for Kalanagar junction

If you are fed up of getting stuck in traffic jams at Kalanagar Junction on the Western Express Highway (WEH) in Bandra during peak hours, you have a reason to smile. By December, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will invite tenders for the construction of two underpasses and one flyover to solve the traffic woes of this busy junction.

Kalanagar during peak hours

Speaking to Sunday MiD DAY, MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana said, “During peak hour’s, traffic jams at Kalanagar Junction are unavoidable. We will construct two underpasses and one flyover, which will bypass this junction. The tenders will be invited by December and the work will start before the next monsoon.”

According to MMRDA’s plans, one underpass will begin from BKC and go towards the sea link and another will begin at BKC and go north towards Santacruz on the WEH. The underpass starting from BKC and going towards BWSL will be 400 metres long and the second tunnel starting at BKC and going towards Santacruz via the WEH will be 1.5 km in length.

The flyover will help solve the problem of motorists coming towards BKC, too. The 900 metre-long flyover will start right after the Bandra Rail Over Bridge and will end near BKC. At present, the motorists coming to BKC from BWSL or south Mumbai have to wait at Kalnagar Junction to go towards BKC. The total cost of the two underpasses and the flyover will be Rs 400 crore.

Do you know?

50,000
Approximate number of vehicles that use the Western Express Highway every day

30,000
Approximate number of vehicles that use the Western Express Highway between 6 pm and 10 pm