HindustanTimes 16.02.2010
Speed restrictions on Peddar Road flyover
It was supposed to make the connection between the island city and the suburbs a smooth ride.
But lack of an environmental clearance for the Peddar Road flyover, the longest to be built in the city, means that the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has had to change the alignment of the flyover limiting the speed in certain sections to 25 km per hours, against the planned 60 km per hour.
The flyover, which has faced opposition from Peddar Road residents including Lata Mangeshkar, is now stuck because of Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority’s regulations.
The problem is the planned alignment of the flyover. At the steep turn at Tambe Chowk near Wilson College, the flyover would jut seven metres into Girgaum Chowpatty. According to the plan, two piers would require to be constructed on the beach violating CRZ regulations.
The MSRDC, in a recent presentation given to the Chief Minister, decided that it would not construct the piers on Girgaum Chowpatty, instead following the existing alignment of the road to construct the flyover.
However, the change in plans mean that the flyover’s curve at Tambe Chowk will be steeper, reducing the maximum speed limit to 25 km per hour.
The 4.6-km long flyover will be the city’s longest flyover beginning at L L Marg at Haji Ali and ending on Marine Drive near G B Pant Marg and helping avoid ten traffic signals for commuters. MSRDC had hoped that the average speed on the flyover would be 60 km per hour.
“In the presentation to the MCZMA, we have now said that we will build the project according to the road alignment. We are hoping to float tenders as soon as we get government clearance,” a senior MSRDC official said.
Experts believe that the Peddar Road flyover could have the same effect on traffic dispersal as the 2.7-km long JJ Flyover.
The JJ flyover, which winds over 23 traffic junctions, has helped reduce travel time from South Mumbai to central parts of the city from 40 mins to 7-8 mins.
Peddar Road, one of the narrowest roads connecting Mumbai to its distant suburbs, is a commuter’s nightmare.
