Changing City: Mumbai’s Vidyavihar flyover likely to open by August 15 after delays

2 min readMumbaiJul 3, 2026 03:07 PM IST

A view of the under-construction Vidyavihar flyover in Mumbai

(Express Photo/ Sankhadeep Banerjee)

The much-awaited Vidyavihar flyover in Mumbai, which was set to open for traffic in June, is likely to become operational only by next month, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) eyeing the completion of the crucial east-west link over the Central Railway Line by August 15. The Rs 178-crore infrastructure project over Vidyavihar railway station has been designed to connect Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg (East) with Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg (West).

Conceived nearly 35 years ago, the Vidyavihar flyover will allow motorists to cut down their travel time to less than 10 minutes, skipping the flyovers in Ghatkopar and Kurla — a commute that otherwise takes at least 40 to 45 minutes.

The project was first conceived and incorporated in the BMC’s revised development plans of 1991. After a wait of over two decades, the tenders for the bridge were finally floated in 2016.

Features

The bridge features an open-web girder span over the Vidyavihar railway tracks, which directly links Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg in the east with Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg in the west by passing above the railway tracks.

Additionally, the flyover comprises a footpath catering to pedestrians, enabling direct access to Vidyavihar railway platforms.

Alignment and cost

The four-lane flyover, being built at Rs 178 crore, will extend to 612 metres, with each girder weighing 1,100 metric tonnes. It will have footpaths on either side of the bridge.

Delayed timelines over the years

Original deadline – Mid-2022

December 2024

March 2025

June 2026

Administration speaks

“Currently, the route demands a long detour and can take anywhere between 40-45 minutes during peak travel time. Once the bridge is constructed, the east-west commute in Vidyavihar will cut down to 10-15 minutes,” a senior BMC officer told The Indian Express.

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.

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Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:

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