Mumbai saves Veer Savarkar flyover after fierce resident-led opposition

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has abandoned plans to demolish the seven-year-old Veer Savarkar flyover in Goregaon. The decision follows months of public and resident opposition, with local residents and leaders pushing for alternative solutions.

The flyover, a key east-west link between the Western Express Highway and Rustomjee Ozone, will now be preserved using monopile technology instead.

The BMC initially proposed demolishing the flyover to clear space for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (North) corridor. However, resistance grew after BJP MLA Vidya Thakur and local residents campaigned against the move in August. Their efforts led the civic body to reconsider its approach.

In December, an expert team from IIT Bombay conducted a technical inspection of the flyover. They recommended design changes and requested revised drawings to accommodate monopile technology. The contractor implemented these adjustments and resubmitted the plans, which IIT Bombay later approved.

The revised solution allows the flyover to remain intact while still facilitating the coastal road project. The use of monopile technology ensures structural stability without the need for demolition.

The BMC’s decision means the Veer Savarkar flyover will continue serving as a vital traffic route. The approved monopile design removes the need for demolition, addressing concerns raised by residents and political leaders. Construction on the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (North) can now proceed without disrupting this key infrastructure link.