It is usually deliberate to attach the upcoming Coastal Street North Extension (Versova-Bhayander) challenge with the Goregaon-Mulundring Street (GMLR), which is able to considerably cut back journey time on the east-west hall on the outskirts of town.
The rising give attention to flyover enlargement is shifting from connectivity to high quality of building. Movies and pictures shared by motorists confirmed tough patches, seen seams and free materials on the roadway.
Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Social gathering (NCP-SP) nationwide spokesperson Anish Gawande criticized the state of affairs on the newly opened flyover.
“Welcome to Mumbai’s latest flyover price Rs 248 million. On 750 meters of highway, that is price Rs 33 million per meter. And the one which opened this week is stuffed with potholes,” he wrote in a publish on X.
He additionally cited the legacy of veteran socialist chief Mrinal Gore and mentioned, “This flyover is called after the long-lasting Mrinal Tai Goa, who spent his life preventing. So, extraordinary Mumbaiites might get a dignified life.”
Welcome to Mumbai’s latest flyover price Rs 248 million. For 750 meters of highway, it’s equal to Rs 33 million per meter.
And this week it opened stuffed with holes.
This flyover is called after the long-lasting Tai Gore, who spent his life preventing for the lives of Mumbaikars. https://t.co/E30NEGcuUO
— Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) June 7, 2026
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What BMC says
On Sunday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC) launched an announcement relating to the situation of the highway floor. This was adopted by an inspection of the viaduct by Mayor Ritu Tawde on Tuesday.
The BMC mentioned the bridge division has taken be aware of the observations and feedback made by residents, elected officers and varied stakeholders on social media relating to the “apparent irregularities and a few patchy look” of the Mrinaltai-Goa extension flyover’s deck floor.
“On this regard, it has turn out to be clear {that a} 40 mm thick mastic asphalt put on course was supplied on the bridge carriageway,” the company mentioned in an announcement on Sunday.
It added: “Because of the nature of mastic asphalt, it seems patchy and tough instantly after it’s laid, particularly whether it is laid by hand.”
Nevertheless, as extra automobiles are on the roads, the roads start to turn out to be smoother and cleaner. “Mastic asphalt is a specialised asphalt surfacing materials extensively utilized in bridge decks resulting from its glorious waterproofing properties, long-term sturdiness, resistance to rutting, and prolonged service life.”
Abhijit Bangar, BMC’s assistant municipal commissioner (tasks), mentioned the flyover has a 40mm layer of mastic asphalt, a cloth that may be very delicate to temperature. “Excessive temperatures, particularly temperatures above 35 to 40 levels Celsius, can soften the highway floor and trigger tire ruts to kind after giant automobiles move.”
“It could really feel slightly bumpy,” he advised ThePrint. “However as soon as the temperature rises and the car passes via it, it turns into as clean as earlier than. That is the character of mastic. You possibly can’t say it is poor high quality.”
BMC‘s Explanatory assertion It additionally argued that the viaduct’s geometry made the work “comparatively” complicated.
“The geometry of the bridge is comparatively complicated, containing lengthy horizontal curves and totally different ranges of superelevation at totally different places. Because of this, the mastic asphalt put on course was laid in phases and in separate sections. Because of this, sure building joints between adjoining sections at the moment are seen and will resemble patches in some places.”
Bunger advised ThePrint that the uneven look was partly because of the incapacity of the 4-metre paver to fully cowl the 7.5-metre vast highway floor. Some needed to be finished manually. “There’s a distinction between ending with a paving machine and ending by hand,” he mentioned. “Additionally, while you end one half with a paving machine and the opposite half by hand after which be a part of them collectively, as we did on this case, you find yourself with unevenness.”
BMCassertion of clarification In addition they say that mastic asphalt has self-healing properties, which means that common visitors motion causes seen joints to mix collectively for a smoother expertise.
“Mastic asphalt is a dense, void-free materials that displays self-healing and flowing properties below visitors masses and ranging atmospheric temperatures. When common and steady vehicular visitors begins, these joints regularly mix into the encircling floor, leading to a extra uniform look and smoother trip over time.”
Concerning the free sand seen on the floor within the first few days, Bunger mentioned, “The mastic that we simply put down is slippery, so we’re spreading the sand out to make it non-slip.” “The ruts are usually not a significant issue. The floor appears very flat, however the high quality of the floor isn’t dangerous,” he added.
He additionally mentioned mastic is usually used on bridges as a result of it gives a greater trip high quality than concrete. “By way of trip consolation, mastic is taken into account very superior to concrete,” he mentioned.
He added that mastic additionally has robust waterproof properties, which helps defend the underlying highway layer. “It’s totally waterproof… so the highway beneath is nicely protected.”
Nevertheless, neither commuters nor opposition leaders are happy with that clarification.
Mayor Ritu Tawde, who began the enlargement work in response to rising criticism, inspected the positioning on Tuesday and located the work to be passable. “I inspected the positioning and located that the work is passable. Ending work is required and I’ve conveyed the identical to them,” she advised reporters on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, she directed the authorities to degree minor undulations, align highway edges, full ending works and develop greenery alongside each side of the flyover via vertical gardens and different appropriate strategies.
“It isn’t as dangerous because it appears.”
Pankaj Joshi, principal director of City Middle Mumbai, a nonprofit group specializing in city planning, mentioned the uneven floor of the newly opened elevated arm doesn’t essentially point out a structural downside, however could possibly be associated to the highest floor layer.
In accordance with him, the precise failure of mastic asphalt will look totally different. “The failure of mastic is when the mastic will get into the cake,” he advised ThePrint.
He added that the present circumstances could possibly be associated to excessive temperatures or an excessive amount of asphalt within the combination. Bitumen acts as a binder for the opposite dry components that make up mastic asphalt.
“I believe there are two issues to watch out of. One is the temperature at which the work was finished. Mumbai is extraordinarily scorching proper now, which is often not a superb time to do this sort of work. The second is whether or not to place in additional asphalt. Generally, contractors are typically extra cautious and improve the asphalt content material within the mastic, which makes the mastic extra delicate to warmth,” Joshi mentioned.
Bitumen is semi-solid in composition, however at excessive temperatures it melts right into a liquid, and when cooled, the bitumen hardens right into a strong mass.
This unevenness can nonetheless be corrected, he added. “It is easy to flatten. It is asphalt. It is like clay and you may roll it again into place,” he mentioned. “However usually when a heavy car passes, the whole lot goes up in degree. Mastic is finished on all bridges in every single place, so it is not like there’s one thing essentially improper with it,” he added.
Describing the pavements used on flyovers, he mentioned, “Mastic asphalt is a reasonably wealthy asphalt compound, laid down, and is elastic in nature. Subsequently, it often copes with vibrations and cracks. However because of the inherently excessive asphalt content material, mastic asphalt turns into shiny and slippery.”
For that reason, small items of stone are embedded within the high to create friction, he mentioned. “The usual course of includes embedding items of stone on high of it, known as Metallic, Metallic No. 1 and Metallic No. 2. That means you possibly can clean out the tough texture so the tire does not slip,” he mentioned.
“My understanding is that is why we saved the elements barely up in order that they embed when car motion happens.”
“However the true take a look at might be 15 to twenty days after the monsoon. If the outcomes are lenient, will probably be a failure,” he says. “It isn’t one thing they will cover in any means. It is not possible. However I do not assume they’re mature sufficient to say something proper now. It is too early to say whether or not they’ve failed,” he added.
Criticism of opposition events
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Aaditya Thackeray surveyed the present standing of the newly opened bridge. “Take a look at the standard of the political posters. And have a look at the standard of the roads they delivered. They’re simply looting town we love,” he posted on X.
Take a look at the standard of political posters.
And have a look at the standard of the highway floor they supplied.
They’re simply looting our beloved metropolis! https://t.co/26ULVRzH9A
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 6, 2026
Varsha Gaikwad, Speaker of the Mumbai Meeting and Member of Parliament from Mumbai North Central constituency, additionally criticized the “shoddy work” and uneven floor end of the flyover.
“Why is there already patchwork on the newly laid highway? This entire part appears in such dangerous form. Only one rain might create a crater. Horrible high quality of labor. What excuse will @mybmc give this time?” she wrote.
In one other tweet, she wrote, “The official deal with @mybmc posted an aerial photograph of the Mrinal-Tai-Goa elevated extension as a substitute of a close-up shot from the bottom. However even from this top, the shoddy building work, uneven floor is clearly seen. Disgrace!”
The official deal with @mybmc posted an aerial shot of the Mrinal-Tai-Goa flyover extension as a substitute of a close-up shot from the bottom. Nevertheless, even from this top, you possibly can clearly see the shoddy building work and uneven surfaces. disgrace! https://t.co/8Aa4pTX8Pw
— Professor Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) June 6, 2026
NCP (SP) nationwide spokesperson Anish Gawande criticized the BMC’s clarification letter launched on Sunday, calling it a “half-hearted letter stuffed with misinformation”.
“Who’re the law enforcement officials liable for mendacity to the folks of Mumbai?” he wrote to X. “@TawdeRitu ji, I’ll write to your workplace tomorrow. When you do not take duty for this, do not count on Mumbaikars to stay silent.”
Who wrote this half-baked letter stuffed with misinformation? Which police officer is liable for mendacity to the folks of Mumbai? @TawdeRitu ji, I’ll write to your workplace tomorrow. If we do not repair accountability for this, do not count on Mumbaikars to stay silent. https://t.co/At6UZ7ddKH
— Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) June 7, 2026
He wrote to Mayor Ritu Tawde and BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Monday, asking the corporate to launch the engineering high quality take a look at knowledge, withdraw the unsigned clarification by BMC and reissue an announcement naming the accountable officer.
Criticism then unfold past social media.
On Tuesday, company our bodies of the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by former mayor and BMC opposition chief Kishori Pednekar, staged a protest on the flyover and inspected the positioning of alleged shoddy building.
Pednekar criticized the ruling social gathering for allegedly dashing the opening of the bridge. “The authorities are extra excited about putting in nameplates than guaranteeing that the work is accomplished correctly,” she advised ThePrint.
Mr. Pednekar questioned the hovering value of the challenge and requested why the development work, which had already been delayed for a number of years, had ballooned to almost Rs 248 million. “The federal government should take duty for this and clarify why it failed,” she added. “In its rush to flaunt its achievements, it ought to have checked the standard of the work earlier than the bridge was opened to motorists.”
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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