Changing City: Now, Goregaon-Airoli in 20 mins with Mumbai’s 1.6km-long double-decker bridge shortcut

Mumbai's eastern suburbs could see a significant reduction in travel time between Goregaon and Airoli with the construction of a 1.6km-long double-decker cable-stayed bridge. The bridge, part of the larger 12.2km-long Goregaon Mulund Link Road project, will connect Nahur with Airoli and should ease the burden on the existing bridge and flyover currently plagued by heavy traffic during peak hours.

The bridge will originate near the Nahur railway station, allowing vehicles from the western suburbs to directly access it via an underground tunnel, bypassing the congested existing flyover. Vehicles from Thane and Vashi can also reach the bridge through four cloverleaf arms, which provide a direct entry point into the underground tunnels leading to Goregaon.

The bridge is currently in the planning stage, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appointing Veermata Jijabai Institute of Technology (VJTI) to conduct a feasibility study and audit of the project. The total cost of the bridge is estimated at Rs 1,354.52 crore, with the BMC committing to pay VJTI Rs 6 crore for the audit.

Scheduled for completion by October 2030, the bridge will be the final phase of the GMLR project, aiming to provide a seamless connection between Mumbai's western and eastern suburbs. The project's additional municipal commissioner (Projects), Abhijit Bangar, highlighted that the bridge will significantly reduce travel time from Goregaon to Airoli, cutting it down from the current 1.5-2 hours to less than 20 minutes.