BMC Clears 42 Slum Structures at SVP Nagar to Fast-Track Yari Road–Lokhandwala Bridge Project

After years of waiting, the long-pending Yari Road–Lokhandwala bridge project in Mumbai has finally gained momentum. On Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) carried out a major demolition drive at SVP Nagar, clearing 42 unauthorised slum structures to pave the way for the long-delayed bridge connecting Yari Road and Lokhandwala in Andheri.

The operation, led by the K West ward team in coordination with the Mumbai Suburban Collector’s Office, marks a key milestone in a project that has been stalled for nearly two decades. According to officials, the removal of these structures was essential before bridge construction could commence.
 

Bridge to Ease Traffic and Improve Connectivity

Once complete, the Yari Road–Lokhandwala bridge will drastically cut travel time between the two neighbourhoods from about 35 minutes to just 5 minutes. The bridge is expected to ease congestion in Versova, Yari Road, and Lokhandwala, which currently depend on narrow internal roads for interconnectivity.

The BMC had floated a ₹42-crore tender in November 2023 to finally begin work on the long-pending project. The 393.2-meter bridge will cross the Kavathe Creek, featuring a 110-meter single-span steel arch, supported by approach roads measuring 166 meters on the Yari Road side and 117 meters on the Lokhandwala side.

Once completed, it will also provide a vital access route to the upcoming Versova–Bandra Sea Link (VBSL), reducing commute times for thousands of residents.
 

Action Against Unauthorised Structures

Confirming the development, Chakrapani Alle, Assistant Municipal Commissioner (K West), said,

“The land encroached by unauthorised slums was collector land. The joint action was carried out with the BMC providing manpower and machinery to demolish 41 residential structures and one religious structure, all under police protection. The area has now been barricaded by the BMC’s bridge department, which will immediately begin work on the construction of the bridge.”

Officials said that the demolition drive was peaceful, with adequate police presence to prevent any disruption.
 

Public Support for the Move

The move has received strong backing from local residents and citizen groups. Dhaval Shah, founder of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA), welcomed the BMC’s swift action.

“The Yari Road bridge has been in the making for decades, with multiple tenders floated over the years. Now, with the slums being cleared, the project will finally get the push it needed. Once complete, it will cut travel time for residents of Versova, Yari Road, and Koli Village by over half an hour,” Shah said.

He added that the bridge would significantly decongest the Lokhandwala back road and serve as a new access point to the Versova–Bandra Sea Link, transforming local mobility.
 

A Project Two Decades in the Making

The idea for the bridge dates back to 2002, when the project was first proposed to link the growing residential pockets of Andheri West. It gained traction in 2014, when a ₹17-crore tender was floated and a contractor appointed. However, the plan ran into multiple hurdles — including environmental objections and legal challenges over the bridge’s alignment through mangrove zones.

Environmental activists had argued that the bridge would disturb the creek ecosystem and result in the cutting of 48 mangrove trees. However, after years of litigation, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition in 2023, paving the way for construction to finally proceed.
 

Next Steps

With encroachments now removed and legal barriers cleared, the BMC’s bridge department is expected to begin ground work shortly. The civic body has assured that all environmental safeguards mandated by the court and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) will be followed during construction.

If completed on schedule, the Yari Road–Lokhandwala bridge will not just be a new link across a creek — it will be a symbol of how long-delayed urban projects can finally find direction when planning, legal clarity, and local support align.