Eastern Freeway (Mumbai)
| Vilasrao Deshmukh Eastern Freeway विलासराव देशमुख पूर्व मुक्त मार्ग | |
|---|---|
Eastern Freeway in red | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by MMRDA | |
| Length | 16.8 km (10.4 mi) |
| Existed | 16 June 2014–present |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | P D'Mello Road, South Mumbai |
| North end | Eastern Express Highway, Chhedanagar,Chembur |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| States | Maharashtra |
| Major cities | Mumbai |
| Highway system | |
| |
The Eastern Freeway (officially Vilasrao Deshmukh Eastern Freeway Marathi: विलासराव देशमुख पूर्व मुक्त मार्ग), is a controlled-access highway, 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$180 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. 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. 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. 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.
Heavy vehicles (except public buses), three-wheelers, two-wheelers, bullock carts, handcarts, and pedestrians are prohibited from using the freeway, though bicycles have often been sighted post opening. Vehicles are also prohibited from halting on the freeway. The maximum allowed speed limit is 80 km/h.