The Santacruz Chembur Link Road, or SCLR Extension, has almost reached its final stage as it awaits only the installation of the remaining 100 meters of suspension span. The section is part of a cable-stayed bridge and completion of the structure will be done if the traffic police gives nod for two proposed traffic blocks, an official of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said.
The final installation will be undertaken in stages, with respect to the curvature of the road, and it would include suspension cables and surfacing of the road. If all the required approvals are received well in time, the rest of the SCLR would be opened to the public on January 1, 2025.
In a connected development, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) paid Rs 16 crore recently to defense authorities for acquiring important land required for the project.
The SCLR 4.2-km extension was to be ready by 2019. The project got delayed due to various issues including the necessity to acquire defense land. The project was started in 2016 and seeks to greatly enhance connectivity of key areas in Mumbai.
The extension is from Kapadia Nagar to Panbai International School. It passes through the major junctions such as Kapadia Nagar Junction, near LBS Road and Vakola Junction on the Western Express Highway. Major points on the stretch are Vakola Junction, Ambedkar Chowk, University Junction, and BKC Junction. This would reduce traffic congestion and improve the efficiency of travel between Kurla and the elevated road at Vakola.
With the project near completion, it has a good chance of filling an important gap in the transportation system of Mumbai while ensuring a smooth and less hectic traffic flow within a crowded urban environment for its commuters.