3 new flyovers to ease traffic at Haji Ali, Peddar Road.

The Mumbai Transformation Support Unit (MTSU), a state government-think tank, has recommended a fresh design to ease traffic at the Haji Ali junction and on Peddar road, an arterial north-south connector.

The plan has been conceived in place of the decade-old proposal for a viaduct over Peddar Road, which has been stalled due to a delay in getting environment clearance and vociferous protests by the residents along the alignment.

The MTSU zeroed in on the design on July 9 in a meeting of the chief secretary-led empowered committee, comprising senior officials Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the traffic police. The committee also includes members from the private sector.

Qaiser Khalid, additional commissioner of police (traffic), who had attended the meeting, said the architect appointed by the MTSU had proposed a plan for two south-bound flyovers with two lanes each, starting from the Lala Lajpatrai College at the Keshvrao Khade Road opposite Haji Ali.

Two arms of the first flyover would be landing on Peddar Road and Breach Candy Road, while the remaining two arms of the second flyover would be landing at the Tardeo junction, Khalid said. The north-bound flyover will stretch from Doctor House towards the Lala Lajpatrai College.

The officers said that heavy vehicles would have to use the road under the flyovers, which would ease traffic congestion, while motorists can zip through the viaduct. Khalid said the one arm of the flyover on Peddar Road will have an exit at the Jaslok Hospital for ambulances.

S M Ramchandani, joint managing director of MSRDC, confirmed that the plan was under consideration. 'This has been discussed in the most recent meeting. However, there has been no final decision yet,' he said.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS