Mumbai: Work on Kherwadi flyover's north-bound arm to begin soon

The Kherwadi flyover, which will reduce congestion on the Western Express Highway and make the entire stretch signal-free, could be ready by the end of this year or early next year.

Work on the north-bound arm of the Kherwadi flyover is finally set to begin in a couple of weeks. The flyover, which will reduce congestion on the Western Express Highway and make the entire stretch signal-free, could be ready by the end of this year or early next year.

The south-bound side of the flyover was opened to traffic in June this year, bringing much-needed relief to motorists going towards south Mumbai at the junction which was notorious as one of the worst congestion-prone spots in the city. However, motorists going towards the western suburbs still have to endure traffic snarls.

The 580m Kherwadi flyover starts at Government Polytechnic college and ends about 20 meters before the Kalanagar flyover.

The traffic police will carry out trials to see how traffic can be diverted while construction is underway.

“We will see if a lane of the south-bound side of the flyover can be used for traffic going towards the north. We will finalise the diversion plan next week. Subsequently, approval to construct the north side will be given,” said assistant commissioner of police (traffic), KG Kharat.

“We had a meeting with the traffic police few days back, in which we were asked to take a few measures for the traffic diversion plan. We have now complied with them. We are expected to start construction work anytime in the second half of this month.”

Although the MMRDA was ready to start construction during the monsoon, the traffic police refused to give permission. They also did not work to be ongoing during the Ganesh festival as it could have interfered with the immersion routes.