Mira–Bhayander Flyover Controversy: Lane Narrowing Sparks Public Debate
MUMBAI: A newly constructed flyover in the Mira–Bhayander region has drawn sharp public attention after a social media post highlighted what appeared to be an abrupt narrowing from four lanes to two. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has denied any design flaw and issued a clarification on the project.
The issue surfaced after a post by the Gems of Mira Bhayander X (formerly Twitter) account went viral, questioning whether the double-decker flyover — part of the Metro Line 9 project — could end up worsening congestion rather than easing it. The post claimed that the four-lane flyover “suddenly narrows” into two lanes, triggering a wider debate on infrastructure design and approval processes in the fast-growing suburban belt.
In its clarification, MMRDA said the lane transition is a planned engineering decision shaped by the available right of way and long-term network expansion. Officials said the flyover has been designed with two lanes for Bhayander East, while provision has been kept for an additional two lanes towards Bhayander West as part of a future extension across the Western Railway line.
Since the Bhayander East arm comes first along the alignment, the current four-lane configuration transitions into two lanes, with the remaining outer lanes planned to be added in a later phase, the authority said.
Up to Golden Nest Circle — a major junction where five arterial roads converge — a 2+2 lane flyover integrated with the Metro corridor has been provided, along with slip roads on both sides to aid traffic dispersal. Beyond the junction, towards Bhayander East, the available road width reduces as per the Development Plan, necessitating a 1+1 lane flyover along the median with dedicated up and down ramps for uninterrupted movement towards Railway Phatak Road.
MMRDA added that provision has been kept for future widening of the flyover, subject to approvals and coordination with the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation. The structure, it said, has been designed primarily for traffic dispersal and congestion reduction, and includes safety features such as signage, rumble strips, and crash barriers, with traffic police inputs being incorporated before commissioning.
However, public skepticism has persisted online even after the clarification. Dakshay Desai wrote on X, “This flyover will be shut immediately after inauguration if opened. As this will be an accidental zone. They will have to make a lot of changes. This is the worst design — who approved it?” Another user, ekbote-R, compared it with earlier projects, posting, “Vikhroli east–west bridge had three lanes, Lower Parel bridge without footpath. Now this. I have actually started doubting these engineers’ degrees.”
The controversy highlights the ongoing challenges in urban infrastructure planning, where public expectations and engineering constraints often clash. While the MMRDA maintains that the design is well-thought-out and future-proof, the public's concerns underscore the need for transparent communication and robust design reviews in infrastructure projects.
