15 December,2012 07:45 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
While the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has shown the green signal for the much-awaited Peddar Road flyover, transport experts and residents of the area feel that once the actual construction work is flagged off, the traffic scenario in and around the stretch will go from bad to worse, especially during morning and evening peak hours.
long wait: A public hearing seeking suggestions and objections for the Peddar Road flyover project was held last year. This was the second time that MSRDC had held the hearing. Locals have been opposing the project since the time it was proposed. File pic
Transport expert Jitendra Gupta said, "Peddar Road is an important road for those travelling from South Mumbai to the suburbs and back. Once the actual work starts, the traffic scenario may get badly hit. The traffic department and MSRDC officials should jointly workout on a diversion route which should be monitored properly."
Environmental clearance from the MoEF was received on Wednesday for the ambitious Peddar Road project, which was been in a state of limbo for over a decade, owing to stiff opposition from locals.
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Once construction work gets underway, motorists who earlier used Peddar Road en route to south Mumbai now have the alternative option of using the Warden Road-Napeansea Road route. They can use the same route to return. However, traffic already moves at a sluggish pace on this stretch, so more vehicles could exacerbate the traffic situation.
"Traffic problems can only be avoided if authorities make sure that the construction of the carriageway on one side of the road is done first and only after its completion the other carriageway is constructed. This will increase the duration of construction work, but will lessen the inconvenience to the motorists," added Gupta.
The 4.3 km-long flyover connecting Haji Ali junction to Girgaum Chowpatty will pass the arterial Peddar Road.
An official from MSRDC said, "We have already had a couple of discussions with the traffic police department. Before starting work we will make sure that alternate diversion routes are provided."
Taking into account the issues raised by locals, MoEF has said that noise barriers should be installed on the flyover. u00a0
