[4] The six-lane road was constructed as part of the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a cost of ₹454 crore (US$52 million).

Wilbur Smith and Associates were commissioned in mid-1962 to study and make recommendations on transportation issues in Greater Mumbai.

[16] The Times of India reported that commuters can save ₹ 50–60 on auto rickshaw and taxi fares (at April 2014 rates) when traveling between the Eastern and Western Suburbs via the SCLR.

Government land measuring 10,705.51 square metres belonging to the MHADA, the BMC, the Railways, and the Kurla Dairy, was transferred for use in the project.

m of the land for the existing 30 m width of ROW was acquired by the Public Works Department (PWD) and handed over to the BMC.

Phase I comprises the 3.45-kilometre-long (2.14 mi) section[12] from the east end of the 6-lane Mithi River Bridge up to the Amar Mahal Junction of the Eastern Express Highway.

Patel Engineering briefly halted construction on the project for several months in 2011, asking for another hike in contract value.

[21] In September 2013, the MMRDA invited agencies to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for three proposed bridges.

Despite receiving the request in 2007, CR took 5 years and asked for 4 changes in design before finally approving construction in July 2012.

"[28] The MMRDA also faced challenges launching the 14 girders, each weighing 140 tonne, as they could only carry out work for 3 hours at night to avoid affecting rail traffic.

We had met the railway chief engineer in charge of the project around four years ago and were told that he had 200 proposals like the SCLR to examine because of his wide jurisdiction.

[32] According to the reply from the MMRDA on 24 March 2014 to an RTI request filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali, construction work on the SCLR was complete on the sections from the Mithi river to Ghazinagar, Kurla (W), and from Ghazinagar, Kurla (W) to Rahul Nagar, Tilak Nagar.

However, the section from Rahul Nagar to Eastern Express Highway via Amar Mahal flyover was incomplete.

[33][34] Bitumen work was pending at the Chembur end, apart from which streetlights had also not been installed on the entire length of road.

[36] The Opposition alleged that the project saw delays due to the government's "inefficiency" and was being opened ahead of elections as a "pre-poll stunt".

[37] Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party President Ashish Shelar wrote a letter to the Election Commission on 14 April, calling the SCLR opening a "publicity stunt" and opposing the inauguration stating that the Congress party would "reap undue credit for it".

Vora and Action for Good Governance and Networking in India activist Shyama Kulkarni both questioned why the opening took place so close to the election.

[42][43][44] Traffic was sparse on opening day, which officials believe was because it was a public holiday due to Good Friday.

[50] Increased traffic caused jams on the third day, mainly due to a Congress election rally at BKC.

[50] On 28 April, a Monday, the first working day since the road opened,[51] an estimated 55,000-60,000 vehicles travelled on the SCLR.

Mumbai Traffic Police officers stated that Mohammad Raza Road needs to be widened as it is a main feeder to SCLR.

[54] The Citizen Transport Forum carried out an audit of the SCLR on the third day after opening, and identified seven major bottlenecks along the road.

[55][56] Upadhyay told the Mumbai Mirror on 29 April that these issues could be fixed by widening the roads and installing traffic lights.

However, he noted that an eighth problem, at Mohammed Raza Chowk, where traffic from BKC Road and the SCLR merge, accounted for 90% of the jams.

He felt that the situation could be improved by installing traffic signals at the junction, but even that would not resolve the entire problem.

There are a total of six-seven signals on the entire road, which were installed based on the suggestions of the Mumbai Traffic Police.