Faster commute or more chaos? Mumbai's ₹630-cr Juhu Flyover sparks debate!

Mumbai’s long-delayed ₹630-crore Juhu Circle flyover is set to link CD Barfiwala Lane to the Juhu-Versova Link Road, connecting key high-speed corridors like the Coastal Road and Bandra-Versova Sea Link. While BMC claims it will cut travel time from Juhu to the Western Express Highway from 45 to just 10 minutes, local residents worry it will choke surface roads and impact local environment.

Initially proposed in 2016, the Juhu Circle flyover went through several redesigns, first due to conflicts with Metro 2B's alignment, and later due to height restrictions near airport land. The BMC has now settled on a route running parallel to Metro 2B, with access points near Juhu Galli and the Juhu-Versova Link Road.

However, residents fear the construction will reduce already narrow three-lane roads to a single lane, worsening local congestion. Civic activist Milaan Vigraham argues the flyover prioritises through-traffic over residents who depend on roads like Gulmohar and NS Road 10. He, along with architects and planners, had urged the BMC to consider alternatives like improved signal timing and long-pending roads outlined in the 2034 Development Plan, but their suggestions gained little traction. Environmental concerns persist too, with the likely loss of several trees along the route.

Though the BMC maintains the flyover will ease traffic and eventually connect to the Bandra-Versova Sea Link, urban planners have criticised it as a quick fix rather than a long-term solution. As construction moves ahead, the project remains caught between visions of speed and calls for sustainability.