The construction of the bridge connecting Lokhandwala to Yari Road in Andheri is unlikely to start before January due to pending no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the state forest department for the removal of 48 mangrove trees and the traffic police.

The forest department is conducting a panchnama to document the tree felling, and only after its completion will the NOC be issued. Additionally, 26 encroachments along the Lokhandwala side of the bridge need to be cleared.

Work delays were exacerbated by the recent assembly elections, but officials are hopeful that construction on the Yari Road side can commence once the NOCs are obtained. The bridge, expected to cost Rs 42 crore, aims to reduce travel time between Lokhandwala and Yari Road from 35 minutes to just five.