A political and civic debate has broken out in Mira-Bhayander over the design of a newly built flyover linked to Mumbai’s Metro Line 9 project, after it was observed that a four-lane stretch of the structure abruptly narrows into just two lanes. While the Congress has described this as a serious engineering flaw that could endanger commuters, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has firmly maintained that the design is deliberate and aimed at managing traffic flow at a congested junction.
The controversy began after images and videos of the flyover circulated widely on social media, showing the sudden reduction in lanes. The Congress party seized on the visuals to criticise the Maharashtra government, alleging that such planning failures reflect poor governance and disregard for commuter safety. The party mocked the project as an “engineering miracle,” suggesting that shrinking a four-lane flyover into two lanes defies basic traffic logic and puts motorists at risk.
In a sharp political attack, the Congress targeted the government led by Devendra Fadnavis, accusing it of allowing unsafe and poorly thought-out infrastructure projects to become routine. The party claimed that similar “miracles” have been witnessed not only in Maharashtra but also in other BJP-ruled states, arguing that such decisions have led to accidents, public distress, and avoidable loss of life. According to the Congress, there appears to be little sense of responsibility or accountability when it comes to public safety under the current administration.
The issue gained further traction after a post by a local social media handle highlighted the narrowing of the flyover and questioned whether this reflected the standard of infrastructure planning by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. The post quickly went viral, amplifying public scrutiny and prompting an official response from the development authority.
Responding to the criticism, the MMRDA rejected claims of an engineering error and explained the technical reasoning behind the design. According to the authority, the flyover has been planned to serve different traffic directions in phases. At present, it has been constructed with two lanes leading towards Bhayander East, while provisions have been made for two additional lanes that will eventually connect Bhayander West. Since the eastern arm of the flyover comes first along the alignment, the current four-lane section transitions into two lanes by design.
The MMRDA further clarified that the remaining two lanes on the outer side are part of a future extension that will cross the Western Railway line and connect to Bhayander West. These lanes have not yet been constructed due to existing on-ground constraints, but space has been reserved to accommodate them at a later stage. The authority stressed that the present configuration is a temporary phase within a larger, long-term traffic plan.
Defending the project, the MMRDA stated that the design allows for smoother movement through one of the busiest junctions in the Mira–Bhayander region. It argued that the flyover is intended primarily to disperse traffic efficiently and reduce congestion, rather than function as a continuous four-lane corridor at this stage of development.
Looking ahead, the authority confirmed that plans are in place to widen the flyover in the future. It said that once approvals are obtained and coordination is completed with the local civic body, the outer sides of the flyover on both carriageways will be extended by one additional lane each. This expansion, according to the MMRDA, will improve east–west connectivity and ensure better traffic continuity across the region.
Addressing safety concerns raised by critics, the MMRDA assured commuters that adequate precautions have already been incorporated into the current design. These include rumble strips to alert drivers, delineators and clear signage for lane guidance, retro-reflective markers for visibility, directional boards, and anti-crash barriers. The authority maintained that commuter safety has been given due importance and that the flyover meets prescribed standards despite the controversy surrounding its lane configuration.
