A week's relief for Navi Mumbai residents as Public Works Department delays maintenance work and consequent traffic diversions; project to start on Feb 1
Repair work on the Vashi Creek Bridge was set to begin today. File pic
In some major relief for thousands of motorists who regularly use the new Vashi Creek Bridge, the Public Works Department (PWD) has informed that maintenance work on the bridge has been postponed by a week, as a result of which there would be no traffic diversions on this route till February 1. According to sources, members of the spiritual organisation, Sant Nirankari Mission, requested the government authorities to delay the maintenance work to ensure their followers can peacefully attend an important weeklong gathering in Kharghar.
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Sources said the members approached Central as well as state authorities with their pleas. The source said, "Hundreds of followers are expected to visit the Sant Nirankari Samagam and it would have been really inconvenient for them if the traffic diversions were placed for maintenance work."
A PWD official confirmed that the repair work, which was set to begin today, would begin on February 1. "The repair work on the expansion joints will require approximately 20 days. So, we are hoping it would be over by February 21. The project was previously slotted between January 23 and February 12. The old bridge is in a dilapidated condition and only used by light vehicles now. If we didn’t postpone the repair work, the Mission followers would have been badly affected," the official said.
All vehicles heading from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai will have to use the Mumbai-Vashi lane when the maintenance work commences. Speaking to mid-day, senior police inspector Satish Gaikwad of Vashi Traffic said, "Light vehicles from Mumbai will be diverted on the old bridge. Heavy vehicle will be diverted towards Airoli bridge. We have made arrangements to ensure commuters can enjoy a smooth ride on this route while the repair work in underway."
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