making way: A dedicated lane for buses will prevent vehicles from cutting lanes and also reduce traffic congestion. file pic

Alarmed by the recent spate of accidents on the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has felt the need to have a dedicated lane for BEST and private buses.

The EEH and Western Express Highway (WEH) will now be segregated for buses with dividers instead of the red-coloured, plastic, cone-shaped pyramids that presently adorn these highways. Dividers will be placed on the left side lanes on both highways.

Ratnakar Gaikwad, metropolitan commissioner, says, "We will start work on the WEH and EEH in some time. Work will begin from Sion to Thane on EEH and Bandra to Dahisar on WEH."

Benefits

A dedicated lane for buses will help prevent vehicles from cutting lanes apart from giving buses their own space for plying. MMRDA's executive committee had taken a decision in May to appoint a private consultant to study the viability of dedicated lanes for buses on these highways.

Red-coloured pyramids were placed on 500 m stretches at Godrej junction in Vikhroli on the EEH. They will now be replaced with dividers with work likely to commence in July. The MMRDA feels motorists are comfortable driving with dividers on the road rather than the pyramids.