JVLR in Mumbai to get wider as BMC razes 60 illegal structures

Of the 550 residential and commercial structures that the civic body was to demolish in Andheri and Jogeshwari West, it has until now demolished around 330 of them

In the next 10 months, suburban commuters will save travel time, as the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) will extend to Lokhandwala in Andheri West. Owing to the extension, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday, demolished 60 more structures in Behram Baug, Jogeshwari (West).

The demolition process took a long time because the alignment of the new extension of the road was not finalised. (HT PHOTO)

Of the 550 residential and commercial structures that the civic body was to demolish in Andheri and Jogeshwari West, it has until now demolished around 330 of them.

The remaining structures will be demolished by June, said an official of the maintenance department on the condition of anonymity.

“Of the 550 structures, people from only 45 will be rehabilitated and given space elsewhere. All others were unauthorised establishments,” the official said.

He informed that the demolition process took a long time because the alignment of the new extension of the road was not finalised.

Assistant municipal commissioner Prashant Gaikwad said, “Road levelling and surfacing has already begun, as structures have been demolished. Some owners have gone to court against demolition. The extended road will be ready in about 10 months.”

Extension work on the existing JVLR was taken up by BMC on priority basis. The new road will be connected to Swami Vivekananda (SV) road in Andheri via a 1 km long and 120 feet wide extension. The extension will help commuters reach Lokhandwala complex within a few minutes from SV road, which is currently congested.

The road, which will have two more lanes, will also allow faster traffic movement from Lokhandwala Complex to Eastern Express Highway (EEH).