05 April,2011 06:58 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
The state government has sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for repair of the damaged WEH. The Public Works Department is set to give the connector a much-needed makeover before the monsoons
There is good news in store for motorists who have been facing problems while driving on the damaged stretch of the Western Express Highway (WEH) between Bandra and Dahisar (25.33km).
The Public Works Department (PWD) has promised that motorists will be able to accelerate their vehicles on the stretch by the monsoons this year. It has reportedly been sanctioned an amount of Rs 3.5 crore for repair and maintenance work on this arterial road.
Rajnikant Shinde, executive engineer at PWD, confirmed this saying, "The Maharashtra state government has sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for executing repair and maintenance work on the stretch of the WEH between Bandra and Dahisar. We have already started work near the Kalanagar junction flyover in Bandra.
Potholed roads
Motorists had been facing severe difficulties on the stretch, owing to innumerable potholes. They had to endure painful hour-long traffic jams on their way to and from work. The situation was further aggravated during the monsoons because of severe waterlogging near the Aarey Colony flyover.
Last year, the PWD sent a proposal of Rs 12 crore to the state government in order to facilitate initiation of repair work.
u00a0
Speaking to MiD DAY then, transport experts and senior police officials associated with the traffic department had attributed the traffic problems on the WEH to an utter lack of coordination between the senior and junior PWD engineers.
They also complained that the PWD never intimated the traffic department before carrying out any work on the highway.
Shinde, however, has good news to share. He claims that the PWD is now working in close coordination with all agencies in order to prevent further delay.
"We want to speedily restore the stretch to its pristine condition, especially before the monsoons arrive. We have already started repairing potholes and other damaged parts of various stretches on the WEH.
We are also planning to apply a new layer of tar. By May 15 the stretch between Bandra and Dahisar will be free of all problems," promised Shinde.
DB Bagayatkar, senior inspector, (traffic), said, "The PWD has already taken permission from us to start the repair and maintenance work on WEH. However, we have asked them to carry out work on the north-bound road after 11 pm, as the traffic flow on this road is high between 5 and 10 pm."
50,000
Approximate number of vehicles plying on the WEH every day
