4k sign petition to ease Thane bridge jam

Commuters using Thane’s Kopri Bridge have kick-started an online petition to raise the harrowing traffic congestion issue they face every day. During peak hours, thousands use the bridge that falls along the Eastern Express Highway (EEH).

Road widening of the bridge has been delayed for more than 10 years. Finally, last month, Thane resident Sagar Dani started an online signature campaign in hopes to draw attention of the officials. So far, the petition has received over 4,000 signatures.

“Lanes on the Kopri Bridge need widening urgently. The stretch leaves commuters stranded for hours. The congestion sometimes is more than 2.5-km long. Crossing the bridge alone takes more than 20 minutes. If the online petition does not evoke government action, we will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL),” Dani said.

Over a year ago, a Twitter handle @kopribridgeTNA also tried to draw attention to the issue.  

Santosh Shinde, who manages the micro-blogging account, said: “You have commuters tweeting about the traffic jam every day. Last year, we were told that road work was to start after the monsoon season. But, the civic authority has failed to take any action and commuters feel helpless,” he said.  

NOT GIVING UP

• Thane residents said they were also considering various other means, including a PIL to draw the attention of the authorities to our problems.