Mumbai, Apr 18 (Mid-day) : After missing 12 deadlines, the Rs 428 crore Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) finally opened to traffic from today; while the opening is timed to perfection with days to go for polling, there was no fanfare or formal programme, as the code of conduct is in effect
Coast not clear?
The MMRDA claims that the Rs 428 crore Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) will ease commuting woes between the eastern and western suburbs, ease traffic snarls at Amar Mahal Junction, Vakola, Sion and Kurla, and will also decongest the Eastern and Western Express Highways.
It is hoped that the R428 crore Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) will ease commuting woes between the eastern and western suburbs. Pics/Sayed Sameer Abedi
However, the lack of boards and direction signage may create chaos on the first day of its use. What may cause more inconvenience to motorists is the narrow stretch between the Kalina campus and CST junction.
The 6.45 km flyover's entry point on the Western Express Highway in Santacruz, will be at Dr. Hans Bhugra junction, the road will skirt the Mumbai University campus at Kalina on its south and meet the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg across the Mithi River Bridge.
Thereafter, it will follow SG Barve Marg for about 150 meters, beyond which a new railway road is proposed through slums and across the Mumbai-Kalyan Central (Main) line.
Timed to 'poll' perfection
While the SCLR was ready by the beginning of the month, sources within the Congress-led MMRDA had admitted that they were asked to open it to the public just a few days before the city went to polls on April 24, so that it remained fresh in the voter’s memory
12 deadlines missed
SCLR has already missed 12 deadlines since its inception in 2003. In 2010, when the World Bank was funding the project, Roberto Zagha, the India head of the financial institution, referred to SCLR as the ‘world’s most delayed road project.’ Here are the deadlines that it missed.
November 2004
September 2006
December 2008
December 2009
June 2010
June 2011
December 2011
December 2012
March 2013
October 2013
December 2013
March 2014