Eastern Freeway (Mumbai)

This article is about the freeway in Mumbai. For the freeway in Melbourne, see Eastern Freeway (Melbourne).

Vilasrao Deshmukh Eastern Freeway
विलासराव देशमुख पूर्व मुक्त मार्ग
Map
Eastern Freeway in red
Route information
Maintained by MMRDA
Length16.8 km (10.4 mi)
Existed16 June 2014–present
Major junctions
South endP D'Mello Road, South Mumbai
North endEastern Express Highway, Chhedanagar,Chembur
Location
CountryIndia
StatesMaharashtra
Major citiesMumbai
Highway system

19°01′31″N 72°52′51″E / 19.0253235°N 72.8807017°E / 19.0253235; 72.8807017

The Eastern Freeway (officially Vilasrao Deshmukh Eastern Freeway Marathi: विलासराव देशमुख पूर्व मुक्त मार्ग), is a controlled-access highway,[1][2] in Mumbai, that connects P D'Mello Road in South Mumbai to the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) at Chembur. It is 16.8 km (10.4 mi) long and its estimated cost is ₹1,436 crore (US$170 million). The Eastern Freeway was built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and funded by the Central Government through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM). Construction was contracted to Simplex Infrastructure Ltd.[3] A 13.59 km stretch of the freeway, comprising two of three segments with one of the twin tunnels, from Orange Gate on P D'Mello Road up to Panjarpol, near RK Studios in Chembur, was opened to the public on 14 June 2013.[4] The second tunnel was opened on 12 April 2014. The third and final segment from Panjarpol to Jeejabai Bhosle Marg at Chembur was opened on 16 June 2014.

The Eastern Freeway is primarily intended to reduce travel time between South Mumbai and the Eastern Suburbs.[5] It is also expected to ease traffic on Dr B R Ambedkar Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Port Trust Road, P D'Mello Road, the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Mohammad Ali Road.[6][7]

Heavy vehicles (except public buses),[8] three-wheelers, two-wheelers, bullock carts, handcarts, and pedestrians are prohibited from using the freeway, though bicycles have often been sighted post opening.[9] Vehicles are also prohibited from halting on the freeway. The maximum allowed speed limit is 80 km/h.[10]

  1. ^ "From darkness to light". Mumbai Mirror. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Eastern Freeway in Mumbai named after ex-CM Vilasrao Deshmukh". The Times of India. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Vision barriers to prevent possible attacks on sensitive locations". Indian Express. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  4. ^ "South Bombay to Chembur in 16 minutes". The Times of India. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. ^ "First phase of Rs.847 crore Eastern Freeway to open by December". The Economic Times. Mumbai. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  6. ^ Manthan K Mehta (23 April 2014). "Entire Eastern Freeway in Mumbai likely to be opened by May". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Mumbai: Eastern Freeway frees up other major roads". Hindustan Times. 18 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Zip through Mumbai, over and under". The Indian Express. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  9. ^ "Run more buses for public on Freeway". Dnaindia.com. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  10. ^ "New speed limit for Mumbai flyovers, highways, Bandra Worli Sealink". Livemint.com. 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.