Editorial
Cong.-NCP ‘outsource’ the road’s unveiling to MMRDA to a avoid infringement of the Election Commission’s model code of conduct
In a tactical move to duck Election Commission’s barbs, the Congress-NCP duo have ‘outsourced’ the unveiling of the Santacruz Chembur Link Road to MMRDA officials. This is done to avoid the model code of conduct enforced by the EC since polling dates were announced in Mumbai.
The duo hopes to gain in a big way in the forthcoming polls by having the Santacruz Chembur Link Road thrown open to traffic this weekend. At the same time, MMRDA officials will also unveil the Amar Mahal Junction Flyover — one of the busiest traffic islands on Eastern Express Highway — which will ensure a hassle-free travel for a glut of motorists.
The SCLR also boasts of having India’s first double-decker flyover – a 3.5 km long stretch that forms part of the 6.5 km route. While SCLR is already ready to drive, the Amar Mahal Junction Flyover is scheduled to be operational during this week. The MMRDA has decided to open both projects at the same time to avoid any traffic snarl between SCLR and Amar Mahal Junction, which connects five major roads with Eastern Express Highway.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has asked MMRDA Commissioner U P S Madan to throw open these projects, sans any formal inauguration. Financed by MMRDA, the Rs 428 crore project has been developed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). MMRDA has ruled out any toll for the project. The grapevine ascribed this ‘benevolence’ to Priya Dutt whose constituency falls on this route.
The projects will significantly remove traffic bottlenecks at Amar Mahal, Sion and Kalanagar junctions, Kurla area, and Eastern and Western Express Highways. It will also cut down travel time from 90 minutes to 20 minutes if one commute between Santacruz to Chembur.The six-lane SCLR is expected to address to over 80,000 vehicles a day. The upper and the lower levels of the double deck segment have two lanes each for up and down traffic.
