Sealink inauguration today; 3 options at Worli end; traffic pattern may change at Bandra end.
The city is gearing up for its first ride on the Bandra-Worli Sealink, which will be inaugurated on Tuesday. And the traffic authorities are getting ready to cope with the myriad challenges its inauguration will throw up. But a confident traffic boss trashed all questions about the possibility of bottlenecks at both ends of the sealink.
A joint press conference by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Hindustan Construction Company and traffic police was held at the sealink on Monday. Addressing reporters, Sanjay Barve, joint commissioner of police (Traffic), assured that there would be no traffic congestion at the Worli end of the 4.7 km long sealink. “One must understand that traffic from the western suburbs, which used to choke at Mahim junction, will split into two from tomorrow,” he said. “Some of the vehicles will take the sealink, others will continue on the old route. Thanks to this, there will be no bottleneck at the Worli-end of the sealink.”
He further said that motorists coming from the suburbs would have three options once they reach the Worli-end of the sealink. “They can take a left turn and go up to passport office on Mahakali Road, or can use the Pochkhanwala road to access Annie Besant Road, or take a U-turn and reach Thadani Junction from Worli seaface. These three routes will ease vehicular congestion.”
The traffic officials are also thinking of changing the existing dispersal pattern at the Bandra end. Motorists coming from Mahim church are likely to be allowed to take a straight right turn to reach the Western Express Highway. Earlier, they had to go up the flyover going over Bandra Fire Brigade, and complete a circular turn to reach the highway.
BEST not to use it for nowFor now, BEST buses will not be plying on the Bandra-Worli Sealink, said public works minister (public enterprises) Dr Vimal Mundada on Monday. Private heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, using the sealink will have to pay a toll of Rs100 per trip, said a senior MSRDC official.
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