After restricting two-wheelers from JJ flyover following a spurt of accidents, planning body and police mull banning them from Lalbaug flyover too
After restricting two-wheelers from JJ flyover following a spurt of accidents, planning body and police mull banning them from Lalbaug flyover too
After disallowing bikers from coursing through the JJ flyover since many tended to end up as wrecks, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Develop-ment Authority (MMRDA) and the Traffic Police are thinking whether two-wheelers should at all be allowed on the Lalbaug flyover, which will be thrown open to traffic next month.
No entry: Two-wheelers may be restricted on the Lalbaug flyover,
which will be thrown open to traffic next month. File pic
Speaking to MiD DAY, a traffic police official on condition of anonymity said, "Bikers used to speed on JJ flyover, which resulted in mishaps, specially at sharp curves. That is why we restricted their entry. Now, we are wondering if we should do the same for the Lalbaug flyover."
The sharp curve at Mandvi Junction on JJ flyover is a site of many two-wheeler wreckages in the past. MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar said, "I am not aware of any such rule as of now, but if the traffic police recommends restricting entry of two-wheelers on the Lalbaug flyover, we will take note of it and arrive at a decision after studying the matter."
An official from MMRDA said, "I think it is advisable to restrict the entry of two-wheelers on the Lalbaug flyover to avoid accidents." The flyover on Dr Ambedkar Road is very important, as it is on an arterial route in the city, which connects CST to Sion-Chembur. Once it is thrown open in June, motorists will be able to zip from Byculla to Sion in 10-20 minutes.
At present, the traffic moves at a snail's pace on Dr Ambedkar road during peak hours, expanding travel time between Sion and Byculla to anywhere between 45 and 90 minutes.MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana said, "I am aware of the inconvenience caused to motorists. So I have instructed officials working on the project to pace up and complete the flyover well before monsoon. It will be operational for handling vehicular traffic in June."
The flyover, being constructed in two parts, will be 17m wide with two southbound and two northbound lanes. The 2.4 km Lalbaug part of the flyover will cost the exchequer Rs 150 crore. The MMRDA has already thrown open 1.56 km of the flyover on the stretch from King's Circle to Tulpule Chowk this month.
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