MMRDA installs major trusses for Eastern Freeway Extension at Anand Nagar in Thane
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Tuesday achieved a major construction milestone on the 13.9-kilometre Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension (EFE) project. The authority successfully erected the two main trusses of its segment launcher on the busy Eastern Express Highway, which connects Anand Nagar in Thane with Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar.
The installation of the two massive trusses, each measuring 59 metres in length and weighing 160 tonnes, was completed during a carefully planned operation. This complex engineering exercise was carried out within a restricted four-hour traffic window. According to the MMRDA, the actual erection of both trusses was completed in just one hour.
The authority stated that the operation was executed through meticulous planning, stringent safety protocols, and close coordination with the Mumbai Traffic Police. These measures ensured that the heavy installation was completed smoothly with minimal disruption to the flow of traffic on the highway.
With the main trusses now in place, the segment launcher will begin the next phase of construction. This next step involves erecting 1,632 precast concrete segments, each weighing approximately 90 tonnes. The segments will be installed span by span.
These precast segments will form a 25-metre-wide single-cell segmental superstructure. MMRDA expects that this process will significantly accelerate the overall construction of the elevated viaduct.
The Elevated Eastern Freeway Extension is designed as a fully elevated, six-lane high-speed corridor. The project aims to provide a faster and more reliable alternative to the heavily congested Eastern Express Highway while improving connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Once the entire corridor is completed, it is expected to reduce the travel time between South Mumbai and Thane to approximately 20 to 25 minutes. This reduction will offer a major boost to east-west mobility and ease traffic pressure on one of the busiest arterial roads in the region.
