Relief for EEH, round the corner

MSRDC has drawn up plans to widen the road on the perennially congested Suman Nagar junction, so that southbound commuters can negotiate the passage smoothlyu00a0

Commuters, who mutter under their breath and indulge in regular exhibitions of road rage to vent their frustrations at having to negotiate the perennially chronic traffic jams at Suman Nagar junction, can now heave a collective sigh of relief. If promises are kept, then Suman Nagar junction, Mumbai's biggest traffic chokepoint will soon be ironed out.


Illustration/Jishu Devu00a0Malakar

In an attempt to ensure a smooth passage for traffic at the congested junction, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had undertaken an initiative to widen the road, including four more lanes, for southbound traffic to ply on. The Railway Under Bridge (RUB) project, estimated to cost something to the tune of Rs 12 crore, is likely to be functional from the first week of June.

On an average, traffic plying on the road at peak hour everyday is stalled at Suman Nagar for at least 20 minutes. According to calculations made by the senior traffic officials, once the RUB project is completed, commuters will be able to cover the entire stretch in just three minutes.

On an average, at least three-and-half lakh vehicles use the Suman Nagar junction everyday. The venture, which was chalked out by the Mumbai traffic police along with the MSRDC, includes plans to break a hillock, in order to create more space to accommodate vehicles. To expedite the process, the MSRDC has written a letter to the Central Railway requesting them to introduce a mega-block on the overhead railway bridge, through which trains transporting oil and petroleum goods to RCF and Mahul areas ply at least thrice a day.

"Once the road is thrown open, there will be a huge relief for motorists commuting on the Eastern Express Highway," said SM Sabnis, chief engineer, MSRDC. The new road comprising four lanes and measuring around 30 metres will be open exclusively to vehicles coming in from Navi Mumbai to south Mumbai. "Since vehicles going towards the four national highways also have to pass the junction, there is always bumper to bumper traffic in the area," said Nandkumar Chougale, Deputy Commissioner of police, traffic.

"Once this project is implemented, it will be a breeze for the south-bound traffic," he added. Currently, a large traffic police team has been deployed at the junction to regulate the heavy flow of traffic. The MSRDC will also erect four pillars to facilitate the extension of route. At present the MSRDC is awaiting the green signal from the Railways. Officials said that the raw material for the railway work that is being brought in from Raipur, and will reach the city in a couple of days.