Mumbai: SCLR extension dug up again before inauguration

While the SantacruzChembur Link Road SCLR extension over Western Express Highway WEH that allows motorists to access the roadrsquos northbound carriageway is yet to be opened authorities have dug up the concrete surface of the spot where the connector meets the highway The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA which is implementing the project claims the ramp gradient was adjusted to facilitate access for a contractorrsquos vehicles involved in construction workThe dugup spot where the SantacruzChembur Link Road extension meets the Western Express Highway on April 23 PicsAtul KambleOn March 26 midday highlighted how the SCLR extension could inadvertently lead to traffic congestion as motorists would be using the arm as well as the road below to access the main carriageway of the WEH The extension which is expected to be opened in May will allow those travelling towards Vile Parle via the WEH to bypass the Vakola signalWhen this reporter visited the spot where the extension meets the WEH last month the cement concrete landing spot on the highway appeared intact However a few days ago it was observed that the spot had been dug up raising concerns among commutersMotorist Kunal Chaudhari said ldquoA few weeks ago when I descended the KalinaVakola flyover and headed towards Vile Parle via the WEH I observed that the landing section of the SCLR extension on the highway was complete Around two days back I was shocked to see that the cement concrete surface of the same portion had been dug up What is the logic behind constructing a road and then digging it uprdquoThe section of the Western Express Highway which is now excavated on March 19 File picWasim Shaikh another motorist said ldquoThis section had been concreted a few weeks ago What happened all of a sudden that it had to be dug up Chances are high this was done because the construction had not been properly plannedrdquoHistory of the projectThe SCLR extension work began in 2016 to address chronic traffic congestion near Kapadia NagarKurla CST Road and the junction where Hans Bhugra Marg meets the WEHCurrently motorists travelling via the SCLR from Chembur and Bandra Kurla Complex towards Vile Parle or further north via the WEH must exit the SCLR at the Hans Bhugra MargWEH signal and proceed to the Vakola junction via the northbound carriagewayOnce the northbound SCLR arm passing over WEH is completed motorists using SCLR will be able to bypass the traffic signals at both the Hans Bhugra MargWEH junction and the busy Vakola junctionMMRDA SpeakExplaining why the road was dug an MMRDA official said ldquoThe construction of down ramp A7 near Panbai International School was previously restricted to a length of 145 metres as per instructions from the traffic department due to the inconvenience that was being caused to service road traffic merging with the slip road As a temporary measure the ramp gradient was adjusted and constructed to facilitate access for the contractorrsquos construction vehicles As we now approaching the projectrsquos completion stage we are undertaking the rectification of the ramprsquos gradient by removing the casted PQC pavement quality concrete panel up to nine metres and extending the ramp to its full design length of 166 metres and merging in WEH as originally specified This will ensure a smoother merging of the ramp with WEH smooth flow of traffic and proper functionality of the ramp as per the approved designrdquoatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params