It has been reported that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed allocating Rs 16 billion for concreting of service roads, slip roads and junctions along both the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Western Express Highway (WEH). According to a tender notice issued on September 23, the contract for the works will last for 24 months, excluding the monsoon season. The scope of the project includes civil and concreting works, laying of stormwater drains, pipelines, footpaths and other related tasks.

The tender states that the contractor shall be responsible for ensuring that the project roads remain trafficable, particularly by laying asphalt mixtures during monsoon, from the time the works are awarded until the contract period or completion of the project, whichever occurs later. In addition, all trenches dug by utilities or BMC departments on the EEH during the contract shall be rehabilitated by the contractor, in accordance with the existing policies and specifications, as prescribed by the project engineer.

RTI activist Anil Galgali voiced his opposition to the plan, arguing that service roads are not meant for heavy vehicles and therefore do not require concreting. He suggested that if the roads were properly paved and maintained, they would last just as long. Galgali also pointed out that these roads are often dug up for trenching, and concreting them would make this process more challenging, potentially affecting the quality of the roads.

Earlier this year, a tender was floated for repairing damaged areas on both the WEH and EEH during the monsoon. The EEH covers a stretch of 20 km while the WEH stretches over 35 km. Both are among the busiest traffic corridors, especially during morning and evening peak hours.

In November 2022, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) handed over the responsibility of the EEH and WEH to the BMC, which has since been in charge of the repairs, beautification works and regular cleaning of the roads.