New BKC-Chunabhatti flyover cuts short travel time, Mumbaikars thank Fadnavis

In public interest, I declare that BKC-Chunabhatti Connector (flyover) stands open from today evening.

With this, Mumbaikars will now save 30 minutes travel time & avoid traffic congestion at Dharavi and Sion junctions.#Mumbai #mumbaitraffic #flyover #Mumbaikar pic.twitter.com/GvrNDIgOrD

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 10, 2019

The fish-belly shaped elevated corridor will pass through BKC, Babubhai Compound, Central Railway (near Scion), Duncan Colony, Harbour Line (Chunabhati station) and Sumaiya ground, before culminating at Eastern Express Highway. This is “yet another step towards bringing ease in living for Mumbaikars”, Fadnavis remarked.

Explained | How a new Mumbai flyover cuts commute time in city drastically

Only small vehicles from bikes to cars are allowed on the carriageway. Trucks and heavy vehicles are not allowed.

How Mumbaikars are reacting

In a city, quite known for its traffic logjams, residents seem to be happy with the initiative and have been tweeting out their experiences since Monday morning.

Viji Venkatesh, Region Head, South Asia, The Max Foundation, tweeted that she travelled from Priyadarshini to BKC in just five minutes.

This is such a pleasant surprise ! Straight from Priyadarshini to BKC in 5 minutes – Dharavi totally bypassed ! Am I dreaming ? #Bombay solving traffic woes pic.twitter.com/kkzE6v2C0f

— Viji Venkatesh (@vijivenkatesh) November 11, 2019

Another Mumbaikar thanked Fadnavis for the connector as she described how hard it was to believe that she reached Western Express Highway to Eastern express Highway in just 10 minutes during peak office hours.

Unbelievable! I reached weh from eeh in 10 minutes in peak hour traffic this morning on the BKC Chunabhatti flyover. And it was such a pleasant drive with good views across! Pinching myself hard!! @RoadsOfMumbai Thank you @Dev_Fadnavis https://t.co/hQvTT8g7b9

— Mango girl (@MissRichaa) November 11, 2019

Another Twitter user wrote that she started from Chunabhatti and was in BKC within fveminutes.

Whatta drive!!! Eeh to weh in 10 minutes flat on the BKC Chunabhatti flyover. Unbelievable! Thank you @Dev_Fadnavis for just giving us so much time back to live life! https://t.co/88IDF53mPp

— Richa S (@MumbaiMuggle) November 11, 2019

The long wait and protest

The project was long-pending and had missed several deadlines before it finally opened for the public on Sunday. Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority had planned the project in 2014 at an estimated cost of Rs 156 crore. The aim was to give motorists direct connectivity from BKC to Eastern Express Highway. In October, NCP workers led by its party chief Nawab Malik had gathered on the flyover to forcibly open the corridor. However, they withdrew the protest after MMRDA assured that the road would be opened within a week.