The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is likely to first finish the construction of seven flyovers on Dr B.R. Ambedkar Road before it commences work on the Peddar Road flyover. This is expected to take some time and further delay the Peddar Road flyover project.

HT has learnt that MSRDC officials have suggested that work on the Peddar Road flyover begin only once the Ambedkar Road flyovers are ready in 15 months.

The 3-km viaduct on Peddar Road was part of the 55 flyovers planned by the Shiv Sena-BJP government in 1996. But it has since been delayed largely due to residents’ protests.

The corporation on Friday said it would not work on both the roads simultaneously as that would effectively cut off South Mumbai from the suburbs. Both Dr B.R. Ambedkar Road — which stretches from Sion Circle to Crawford Market — and Peddar Road — which connects Haji Ali to Chowpatty — link the island city to the suburbs.

MSRDC Chairman and Public Works Minister Anil Deshmukh said the matter was discussed at a meeting called by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Friday. “We apprised the CM of all the possibilities,” he said. “We haven’t taken a final decision, but we cannot take up all the projects at one time because it would cut off South Mumbai.”.

He added that it was brought to the CM’s notice that traffic on Peddar Road would have to be diverted to Ambedkar Road if work on that flyover begins. However, seven flyovers are already under construc tion on Ambedkar Road, which means work on Peddar Road will have to wait.

Deshmukh said the CM was also told about new technology that would be used on the Peddar Road flyover in response to some of the objections raised by residents’ association. For instance, vision barriers would be used to block the sight of vehicles moving along the flyover to maintain residents’ privacy.

• Proposed Peddar Road flyover to stretch from Haji Ali to Wilson College
• Construction of the 3-km flyover is likely to be delayed by 15 months
• MSRDC told Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh that it cannot simultaneously work on Dr B.R. Ambedkar Road and Peddar Road as that will cut off South Mumbai from suburbs

Source : HT (epaper)

Entry Filed under: Mumbai Traffic News