The bridge will significantly bring down the travel time and decongest the LBS Marg -- a junction that records a high vehicle density in the suburbs. (File Photo)Vehicle movement on the congested Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road (AGLR) in Mumbai is set to get smoother in two years, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) are constructing a cable-stayed bridge, linking Ghatkopar’s eastern and western sides and intersecting over Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Marg in Ghatkopar.Background of the project:Earlier, Ghatkopar East and West were linked by a Railway Over Bridge (ROB) that was declared unfit in 2018, following a structural audit carried out by the civic authorities. Consequently, the authorities mooted a decision to demolish the 45-year-old structure and replace it with a new cable-stayed bridge.Specifications of the project:The cable-stayed bridge, measuring 216 metres long and 11 metres wide, will have six lanes to accommodate heavier traffic. This will be the first cable-stayed ROB to become operational in the Mumbai suburbs. Currently, the cable-stayed bridges that are operational in Mumbai include the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and Reay Road Bridge. In the Metro One line, the stations on Western Express Highway (WEH) and Andheri are also linked by a cable-stayed railway bridge.How will the bridge benefit Mumbaikars?The bridge will significantly bring down the travel time and decongest the LBS Marg — a junction that records a high vehicle density in the suburbs. To ensure the citizens are not facing hardships, the authorities are building the bridge into two phases. In the first phase, only one arm of the ROB is being demolished and constructed to ensure that vehicle movement continues in the second arm. In the following phase, the remaining arm will be demolished and reconstructed.Cost and timeline:The cost of the bridge has been pegged at Rs 350 crore and the BMC has set up a 2027 deadline for completing the project. At present, the work is ongoing in the first phase.Administration speaks:“The bridge is being built to ease connectivity in the suburbs. The design of the bridge has been planned to boost the appeal of the place, and it will have aesthetic lighting to complement the structure. Alongside the vehicular carriageway, the bridge will also have footpaths and service roads to cater to pedestrians and emergency vehicles,” an MRIDC spokesperson told The Indian Express.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd