Almost a year after the BMC awarded the contract for the Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) and Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road (DBLR) projects, they have finally received the first important approval—the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance. However, the civic body has yet to receive several approvals, including those from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Maritime Board and the High Court. The road is a part of Mumbai Coastal Road Phase 2, that will ease connectivity between the island city and the western suburbs.
The 20 km road project, estimated at Rs. 16,621 crore, will provide a vital connection between Versova and Dahisar, easing traffic congestion in the region. Additionally, a 5.6 km long and 45-meter-wide elevated road will be constructed to link Dahisar with Bhayandar, improving traffic flow. This new infrastructure is set to reduce the load on the Dahisar check naka by 30-35%. Furthermore, it will provide an alternate route to Mira-Bhayandar, enhancing connectivity and reducing travel time. The estimated cost for this portion of the project is approximately Rs. 3,304 crore.
While the work order for the project was issued in January 2023, progress has been delayed due to pending mandatory permissions. “Securing the CRZ clearance for the project was a critical task. The process for obtaining the other necessary permissions has already been initiated. We are committed to accelerating the process to ensure the project’s progress,” said a senior civic official. The project is expected to be completed by 2029. Once finished, motorists will be able to travel from Nariman Point to Bhayander, significantly reducing both costs and travel time.
The DVLR (Dahisar-Versova Link Road) is divided into six packages, with two key packages—C and D—focusing on twin tunnels of 3.66 km each. A north and south-bound carriageway will be constructed between Mindspace and Charkop (Kandivali). The estimated cost for this work is approximately Rs. 5,821 crore. Package A covers a 4.5 km stretch of road between Versova and Bangur Nagar (Goregaon), while Package B spans 1.66 km between Bangur Nagar and Mindspace (Malad). This section is expected to include the GMLR connector, a 4.46 km link that will connect to the Western Express Highway near Oberoi Mall. Package E, covering 3.78 km, will connect Charkop with Gorai, and Package F, at 3.69 km, will connect Gorai to Dahisar.
