In a relief to Malad residents, the T-shaped flyover, which aims to relieve traffic at the congested Mith Chowki, was partially opened for vehicular traffic on Sunday. Nearly two years since the construction commenced, the east-west arm of the bridge was inaugurated by Union Minister and Mumbai North MP Piyush Goyal on Sunday. Congress MLA from Malad Aslam Sheikh, BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar as well as senior officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), including commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, were present. Ahead of the inauguration, a tiff erupted between workers of the BJP and Congress, over credits and claims on completion of the project. Constructed at a cost of Rs 45 crore, the 800-metre long flyover comprises two arms extending towards the eastern and southern side. While the East-West arm, which connects Marve to the Western Express Highway has become operational, the other arm is slated to become operational by the end of this year. While inaugurating the first arm of the bridge, Goyal said, “The flyover near Mith Chowki junction that connects Marve Road and Link Road in Malad has been delayed. Today, along with all the officials, the contractors have been instructed that the work on the bridge should be completed within the next one or one-and-a-half months.” Congress workers carried posters and flags that read that the work on the Mith Chowki bridge was completed with the efforts of MLA Aslam Sheikh, while BJP workers came bearing posters of Goyal, leading to a scuffle. An officer from Malad police station said the incident was handled by police personnel present and no one was injured. No offence was registered, the officer added. The partially bridge caters to only one way traffic. With the elevated north-south metro 2-A line passing above this bridge, only two-wheelers and light motor vehicles (LMV) are allowed to ply on the bridge, while entry for buses and heavy vehicles will be restricted. While the bridge was initially set for a January 2024 deadline, it got postponed owing to the delays in the piling work for creating the foundations. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is slated to inaugurate a slew of projects pertaining to the beautification and restoration work of some of the key heritage and tourist places in Mumbai today.
