After multiple delays that triggered resentment among Navi Mumbai residents, a 290m long flyover connecting Palm Beach Road and Sion-Panvel highway was finally thrown open on Thursday by forest minister Ganesh Naik. The link is expected to benefit motorists merging onto the highway, saving up to 15 minutes and doing away with the long detour from Sanpada. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation spent Rs 18.3 crore on its construction. The project began in 2023, but was delayed owing to a change in design and pending permissions, including an environmental clearance. Residents said inefficiencies in the engineering department led to cost escalations from the original budget of Rs 11 crore and delayed completion. Officials called the flyover’s opening a big achievement for traffic planning in Navi Mumbai. —B B Nayak
