The naka will undergo renovation along with the Mumbai-Panvel Highway naka
The naka will undergo renovation along with the Mumbai-Panvel Highway naka
Two of the city's most important octroi nakas will now get a much-required makeover, with the BMC's standing committee approving a plan to renovate the nakas at Mulund (West) and the Mumbai-Panvel Highway on Friday .
The project will cost the public exchequer Rs 39 crore, and the designs were approved after a competition to fix the look of the nakas was held two years ago. u00a0
According to the design, the upgradation will lead to better facilities at the nakas and fewer traffic snarls. According to a BMC official who requested anonymity, the number of gates for vehicles will increase, and parking facilities and restrooms for drivers will also be made available. He also added that small offices would be created to manage the nakas and keeping an eye on CCTV footages.u00a0
Describing how problematic the current nakas are, Rahul Shewale, BMC's Standing Committee Chairman, stated, "Currently, transactions take a lot of time due to which cars line up and cause a lot of traffic. Also, there are no parking facilities and other amenities for people who have to pay so much octroi."u00a0
Apart from the facilities, the two nakas are also going to be 'themed'.u00a0The entrance of the Mulund naka will bear a motif of Goddess Lakshmi, and the one at the Mumbai-Panvel Highway will depict the renowned Trimurti at theu00a0Elephanta Caves.u00a0
Octroi boom
At Rs 4,357 crore, the total Octroi collection at the city's various nakas from April 1 to December 28 this year has seen a 21 per cent jump compared to the same period last year. Then, the collection totalled Rs 3,585 crore.u00a0
