Thane is all set to earn the distinction of becoming the first city in Maharashtra to feature foot-over-bridges with escalators.
Thane is all set to earn the distinction of becoming the first city in Maharashtra to feature foot-over-bridges (FoBs) with escalators.
The demands of residents and travellers along Ghodbunder road have finally been met after the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) approved the construction of 10 foot-over-bridges (FoBs) with escalators. The MSRDC is currently constructing flyovers at Manpada, Kapurbawdi, Waghbil and Patlipada.
The Ghodbunder road is currently a wide six-lane road extending up to 14km from Majiwada. In the past few years, the residential population along Ghodbunder road has considerably risen. Minor accidents are a daily affair, while at least two fatal accidents are reported on this road every month. Residents have been demanding a FoB here for many months and claim that due to heavy traffic and the ongoing construction of flyovers, crossing the road has become very dangerous.
Recently, after receiving several complaints from locals, MSRDC woke up to the need for an FoB. “We have identified 10 locations along this 14km stretch to construct the FoB,” informed SK Mukherjee, joint managing director, MSRDC.
The FoBs, for which the estimated budget is around Rs11 crore, are likely to come up at Tatvagyan Vidyapeeth, R-Mall, Bramhand Chowk, Muchhala Polytechnic, Kasarvadavali, Ovala, Bhayander Pada, Gaimukh Junction, Chena Village and Fountain Hotel along Ghodbunder Road.
“The FoBs will be constructed on a built-operate-transfer basis and MSRDC will not be spending any money on it. However, the tenders for the same have been floated and the agency is likely to be appointed by September. The actual work is likely to commence only after January 2012,” informed an executive engineer from MSRDC.
He added, “Until now, no other city has escalators on FoBs in the entire state. Thane will be the first. Escalators will be made so as to encourage people to use them. This move will greatly benefit children and the elderly who find it difficult to climb steps.”
The FoBs will be constructed at a 6-metre height while its width will be 3 metres. Officials claim that the construction of the FoBs will not coincide with the ongoing flyover work.
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