Metro trouble for Andheri flyover?

Traffic blocks may be put in place on the highway near Andheri soon, as construction work is due to begin on a cable-stayed bridge for the metro

Metro trouble for Andheri flyover?

Traffic blocks may be put in place on the highway near Andheri soon, as construction work is due to begin on a cable-stayed bridge for the metro

YOUR ride on the Western Express Highway (WEH) may get much worse very soon.

Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) is expected to begin work on the cable-stayed bridge for the metro over the highway near Andheri (East) in a month or two, which will lead to traffic blocks being put in place.

The gigantic Metro link pillars are all but ready that will pass over the Jog flyover on the Western Express Highway in Andheri (E).

MiD DAY had, in its earlier articles, exposed how driving on the WEH is a nightmarish experience because of the bad condition of roads and ongoing construction work of various flyovers. This latest project will only add to motorists' woes.

A traffic policeman on duty under the Andheri flyover said, on condition of anonymity, "The traffic scenario is quite bad already thanks to metro work on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar stretch.

If MMOPL asks us to enforce traffic blocks during peak hours, managing traffic flow will be a daunting task. We won't even be able to divert traffic to S V Road as that, too, is always choked."

However, an official MMOPL spokesperson said, "There will be no need to shut the Andheri flyover on WEH as the Metro rail bridge is a cable-stayed one.

We will only need two or three traffic blocks while casting the bridge segments. That won't, however, have any impact on traffic as work will be carried out in the night."

Yogesh More (28), who travels between Jogeshwari and Matunga on his motorcycle daily said, "Traffic on the WEH is so bad during peak hours that it can't even be called a highway.

It takes me more than 45 minutes to reach Matunga from Jogeshwari every day and if traffic blocks are put in place in Andheri, I can't even begin to imagine how bad the jams will be."

Permissions

Asked whether MMOPL has taken permissions and requested for traffic blocks, DCP (Traffic) Nandkumar Chaugule said, "So far, MMOPL has not taken any permission from us or requested for traffic blocks on the highway.
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It is, therefore, too early to comment on probable traffic issues." MMOPL claimed that all permissions have been taken and the cable-stayed bridge will be completed by September.

An official said work was likely to begin by next month and the major portion would be completed by June so that they could avoid construction during the monsoon.

Crucial Highway
WEH is an important highway and connects south and central Mumbai to the western suburbs. The volume of vehicles on WEH is very high during morning and evening peak hours as it is also used by long-distance tourist buses and heavy vehicles on the Ahmedabad route and to go to Thane via Ghodbunder.