Mid-Day Impact | Mumbai: BMC adds rumble strips to Mrinaltai Gore Flyover arm after repeated skidding complaints

Rumble strips painted on the road. PIC/SATEJ SHINDE

There is some relief for motorists and two-wheeler riders using the recently opened arm of the Mrinaltai Gore Flyover towards Relief Road. Following repeated complaints by vehicle owners, particularly bikers, skidding on the slippery stretch, rumble strips have now been painted on the road to improve tyre traction.

Taking up issue

An August 31 mid-day report - ‘Mumbai: Smooth road surface on Mrinaltai Gore Flyover arm causes two-wheelers to skid' - highlighted that motorists using the new arm of the flyover towards Relief Road had flagged the extremely smooth road surface, saying two-wheelers are skidding and riders falling, particularly when it is wet. On August 29, mid-day had brought the issue to the notice of a senior BMC official, who assured corrective measures to address the problem.

[popcorn number="June 6" desc="Day new arm of flyover was opened" class="Default"]

Issues since opening

The 750-metre, four-lane arm, built at a cost of nearly Rs 248 crore, was opened to motorists on June 6 after being delayed for almost six years. The new arm connects the existing flyover network to Ram Mandir Road and Relief Road in Goregaon West. However, soon after it was opened, motorists began complaining about the uneven road surface, loose grit, and patchy stretches.

Issue resolved

Karan Jotwani from the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) visited the flyover on Friday and noticed that several two-wheelers were skidding on the smooth surface of the new arm, especially after the road got wet. On Tuesday morning, when biker Mukesh Waghela used the flyover, he saw that a yellow-coloured rumble coat had been painted along the slippery stretch.

Commuter Speak

Mukesh Waghela, biker
‘It's good to see that the BMC has taken action after the mid-day report and a video of bikers skidding on the smooth surface of the arm went viral. The BMC have now applied a rumble coat on the stretch, but I think a more permanent solution is needed. Proper rumble strips should be installed, as they would last longer and make the stretch safer for bikers.'