BMC Approves Andheri Flyover Cost Hike to Rs 130.36 Crore Despite Opposition
The BMC Standing Committee approved a second cost escalation for the repair of the Andheri flyover on the Western Express Highway on October 2, 2026, pushing the total project budget from Rs 92.67 crore to Rs 130.36 crore. The revised schedule has deferred the expected completion of the work to November 2026, despite strong objections from opposition members who urged the committee to keep the proposal on hold.
The latest round of additional work on the bridge is estimated at around Rs 12.80 crore. The decision to clear the higher expenditure came after opposition leaders raised sharp questions regarding the sharp rise in costs within a two-year span.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Yashodhar Phanse demanded that the civic body submit a detailed report clarifying why the flyover repair cost escalated so rapidly in two years. Phanse argued that the revised proposal should not be cleared until the reasons behind the variation are thoroughly explained. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi questioned how the structure's condition deteriorated so quickly, seeking full inspection reports and asking what shortcomings in the original structural evaluation created the need for supplementary repairs.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Shraddha Jadhav noted that the flyover was constructed in the 1990s by the state Public Works Department under a Build-Operate-Transfer model and was later handed over to the BMC by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority in 2022. Jadhav questioned whether the MMRDA had provided any repair funds to the BMC following the transfer.
BJP corporator Tijender Tiwana emphasized the bridge's importance, pointing out that lakhs of commuters rely on it every day. Tiwana demanded an account of progress over the past 24 months, asking for the exact percentage of completed work, the total payments made to the contractor to date, and the specific reasons for the delays.
Responding to the committee, Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakane explained that during repair work in 2024, a portion of the slab of a commercial structure beneath the flyover collapsed onto a moving car in July 2024. Dhakane noted that commercial activities in the structure had remained stalled because of ongoing litigation, but a site inspection revealed that repairing the collapsed section was essential for safety.
Stating that the administration could not wait for safety approvals on an issue requiring immediate action, Dhakane defended the intervention. Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde subsequently granted formal approval to the proposal.
