Once completed, the road will cut short commuters' travel time from 40 minutes to five minutes. (Representational Image - iStock)
The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has said that construction of the 'missing link' between Eastern Express Highway and Western Express Highway in Mumbai is expected be completed by the end of this year.
Once completed, the road will cut short commuters' travel time from 40 minutes to five minutes.
MMRDA revealed this in response to an RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali.
Executive engineer of MMRDA, PG Bhangare, said the work of constructing steel viaduct near Jagruti Nagar is expected to be completed by December 2015. "This missing link is being built at a cost of Rs 88 crore and when it gets ready, commuters would be able to drive from Asalpha to Shreyas Junction in just five minutes," he said.
According to Mr Galgali, work order for this 2.9 km road had been released way back in May 2008.
"Even after seven years, this project is not complete and that shows its complexity," he said adding that the MMRDA officials cannot be wholly blamed for the tardiness as it was caused due to several factors like rocky patches during the construction.
This will also be connected to two Metro rail stations-- Ghatkopar and Jagruti Nagar-- as it runs parallel to the Metro line.