10 February,2023 08:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, during his visit to Mumbai, dedicated Elevated Corridors in the presence of Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendraji Fadnavis and other dignitaries.
The corridors run from Vakola to Kurla and MTNL Junction to LBS Flyover on Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. Besides, the PM also dedicated Pedestrian Vehicular underpass at Kurar Village, Malad to Mumbaikars.
To reduce traffic congestion in BKC and Kurla areas and to connect the Eastern and Western Expressways through the existing Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR), MMRDA is constructing Santacruz Chembur Link Road extension in collaboration with the state government. This project is in progress in two phases, MMRDA said in a statement.
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The two arms in phase- 1, the statement said, Maharashtra State Fire Building to Razak Junction 1.8 km elevated road (up ramp) and Mahanagara Telecom Nigam Ltd (BKC) to Lal Bahadur Shastri Bridge (Kurla) 1.26 km elevated road (up ramp) have been opened for traffic.
MMRDA claimed that the corridor will benefit the major corporates established in BKC as well as decongest arterial road around BKC. New wide subway at Kurar Village, Malad will save travel time.
The Kurar village Pedestrian Underpass at Malad on the Western Express Highway was a bottleneck for pedestrians due to its narrowness. Therefore, a new pedestrian and vehicular subway of 40 meters long and 30 meters wide with 2.25m wide footpath on each side has been constructed by widening the existing pedestrian subway at Kurar village by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
The said Pedestrian and Vehicular Subway connecting Kurar village to Malad Railway Station will be convenient for the vehicular traffic and pedestrians in the area and will save 20 minutes of travel time.
Earlier while inaugurating Maharashtra's first Vande Bharat express train and MMRDA's projects the Prime Minister said India's modern and high-speed Vande Bharat train will connect financial hubs like Mumbai and Pune as well as tourist and pilgrimage destinations, which will reduce travel time.
Along with this, he said, the awaited elevated corridor will fulfill the need of East-West connectivity in Mumbai Suburbs. "Lakhs of vehicles will travel by new corridor which will benefit millions of Mumbaikars, saving fuel and time. The Kurar Underpass is also an important project which will benefit the citizens."
"The 2-lane elevated corridor starting from MTNL Junction in Bandra Kurla complex to the existing flyover will help commuters to travel via the existing SCLR from BKC to Chembur, Tilaknagar etc. in less time than before by avoiding vehicular traffic thereby saving more than 25 minutes in their travel time. Also, due to the widening of the pedestrian subway at Kurar village, vehicles and pedestrians will now benefit from it," SVR Srinivas, IAS, Metropolitan Commisioner, MMRDA, said.
