The long-delayed Vidyavihar East–West Connector project has suffered another setback, with 213 trees likely to be removed to facilitate the construction of the flyover’s approach roads. To offset the environmental impact, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed planting 2,278 trees in different parts of Mumbai. A proposal seeking approval to appoint the Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation (MFDC) for carrying out the plantation work has been placed before the civic body’s Standing Committee. Although authorities have fixed June 2026 as the revised completion deadline, the slow pace of construction has sparked concerns among residents and commuters about whether the crucial connector will be ready before the monsoon season begins.
The connector is designed to link Ramkrishna Chemburkar Marg in eastern Vidyavihar with Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg on the western side. The 650-metre-long, two-lane flyover includes a 100-metre span above railway tracks and will also provide access to the footpaths near Vidyavihar Railway Station. Construction work on the approach roads is currently in progress. According to a survey conducted for the project, 189 trees were identified as being affected, including 65 marked for cutting, 73 for transplantation, and 51 to be retained. To compensate for the environmental loss, the BMC has planned to plant 1,990 trees under a Rs 2 crore plantation initiative, which will be executed by the MFDC.
Due to a shortage of available land within Mumbai city limits, civic officials have decided to undertake the compensatory plantation work on a 2.05-hectare plot in Karanjade, Panvel. As per details mentioned in the proposal submitted to the Standing Committee, modifications in the road alignment will affect 24 additional trees. Out of these, 12 trees are expected to be cut down, while another 12 will be shifted through transplantation. Authorities have therefore directed that 288 extra trees be planted, increasing the total plantation count to 2,278. The estimated expense for transplantation, plantation activities, and maintenance over seven years is around Rs 1.57 crore, while earlier estimates for transplanting 73 trees stood at Rs 41.51 lakh.
The overall expenditure linked to tree transplantation and compensatory plantation is now projected to touch nearly Rs 1.99 crore. Meanwhile, the repeated delays in the Vidyavihar East–West Connector have frustrated local residents and daily commuters, many of whom have been awaiting the project’s completion for several decades. The connector was originally proposed in 1991 but saw limited progress until 2016, when the plan finally gained momentum. Actual construction work began in 2018 and was initially expected to conclude by the middle of 2022. However, disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, along with multiple design revisions, significantly slowed the project and pushed the completion schedule further ahead.
AB Infrabuild Limited has been appointed as the contractor for the project, which carries an estimated total cost of Rs 76.18 crore. The official work order for the connector was issued in February 2024. Once completed, the bridge is expected to drastically reduce travel time between Vidyavihar East and West from more than 30 minutes to nearly 10 to 15 minutes, providing major relief to motorists and pedestrians. One of the project’s key engineering highlights is its 100-metre girder above the railway tracks, making it the longest girder constructed over railway lines in Mumbai. Civic authorities believe the connector will significantly improve east-west connectivity and reduce congestion in the surrounding areas.