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MMRDA receives five bids for Sewri-Worli elevated corridor

Tuesday, 22 October 2013 06:42 administrator
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The Economic Times             22.10.2013

MMRDA receives five bids for Sewri-Worli elevated corridor

In a major step ahead for the proposed Sewri-Worli elevated corridor, five engineering firms have submitted their bids for construction of the 4.5 km-long bridge.

In a major step ahead for the proposed Sewri-Worli elevated corridor, five engineering firms have submitted their bids for construction of the 4.5 km-long bridge.

MUMBAI: In a major step ahead for the proposed Sewri-Worli elevated corridor, five engineering firms have submitted their bids for construction of the 4.5 km-long bridge, which will enhance connectivity between the eastern and western suburbs in the metropolis.

Urban town planning authority Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has received bids from five engineering giants comprising Gammon India, Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), NCC Ltd and Simplex Infrastructure for the project.

"This will prove to be very crucial feeder link to the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and we expect at least 20 thousand motorists to benefit from this elevated corridor daily," Additional Metropolitan Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said.

The construction of the Sewri-Worli elevated road, which will cost around Rs 490 crore, is likely to begin early next year and is expected to be completed within 48 months from the date of awarding of the contract.

The corridor starts from the Sewri interchange of the MTHL near Sewri railway station in the east and reaches N.Hardikar road connecting Worli Seaface via Acharya Donde Marg, J. Bhatankar Marg and Dr. Annie Besant Road in the West. The alignment crosses the Central and Western railway lines at Elphinstone Road railway station.

This corridor was originally planned as a connector to the much ambitious Rs 9,630 crore MTHL to make the sea-link across this bridge accessible to the western suburbs.

However, the 22-km harbour link project saw a set back earlier this year when not even a single company responded to MMRDA's bids to construct the harbour link in public private partnership mode, though five consortia were shortlisted.

The five shortlisted consortia were: IRB-Hyundai, Cintra-Soma-Srei, Gammon Infrastructure Projects-OHL Concessions-GS Engineering, GMR Infrastructure-L&T-Samsung C&T Corpn and the Tata Realty and Infrastructure-Autostrade Indian Infrastructure Development-Vinci Concessions Development.

However, the Authority has decided to take up the harbour link project on cash contract or EPC basis (engineering, procurement and construction).

"Despite the negative response for harbour link project, we have decided to go ahead with the Sewri-Worli elevated corridor project as it could benefit the city even as a standalone project," another MMRDA official said.
 

4 signals to regulate Baner Road traffic

Tuesday, 15 October 2013 11:35 administrator
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The Times of India          15.10.2013

4 signals to regulate Baner Road traffic

PUNE: Traffic jams and unruly driving on Baner Road during peak hours may soon be a thing of the past. Four traffic signals are being installed on the road to regulate traffic and make the stretch safer for pedestrians. The first signal is expected to go operational by mid-November.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), based on recommendations from the traffic branch of the Pune police, has identified four junctions on the road that need round-the-clock traffic management. These junctions are the T-crossing at Abhimanshree Society, the intersection at Green Park Hotel, the T-crossing on Pashan link road and the Y-junction in Balewadi phata.

Vishwas Pandhare, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said the decision was prompted by the traffic flow throughout the day. "Not only has the traffic volume increased, but also vehicles don't follow traffic disciple. We have suggested traffic signals to check speeding vehicular movement," he said.

So far, it has been a signal-free ride on Baner Road, with the first official halt at the turn to ITI Road, Aundh. Residential, commercial and office-space development on Baner Road in the last few years have resulted in vehicles crossing at will.

In the absence of traffic signals, negotiating turns or even crossing the road when vehicles speed at each of the four junctions is a battle of nerves, commuters and pedestrians said. Long traffic jams, quarrels and chaotic scenes are common.

Work on the first signal near Hotel Mahabaleshwar has already begun. Shrinivas Bonala, additional city engineer (project) in the PMC, said it would go operational by mid-November. "We have received recommendations from the traffic police. Work orders have already been placed. While installation of the electric pole would be completed by the month-end, getting go-ahead certificates and power connections could take time. Work on the other three signals will begin once the first one is commissioned," he said.

The PMC's junior engineer Jalinder Singh Rajput said, "We need to ensure safe movement of pedestrians at the crossings. Permissions are being sought from the roads department for shifting pipes," he said.

 

Thane Municipal Corporation to build four foot overbridges along Ghodbunder Road

Tuesday, 15 October 2013 11:26 administrator
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The Times of India          15.10.2013

Thane Municipal Corporation to build four foot overbridges along Ghodbunder Road

THANE: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has shown interest in developing four out of 10 foot overbridges (FOBs) along Ghodbunder Road. The decision of constructing the 10 FOBs was taken a few years ago, which was held back due to lack of funds and changes in the tendering process.

The FOBs will come up at Fountain Hotel, Chena Creek bridge, Gaimukh junction, Bhayender pada, Ovala, Mucchala Polytechnic, Kasarvadavali, Bramhand junction, R Mall and Tatvagnyan Vidyapeeth. The civic body is interested in building the last four FOBs, while the remaining six will be constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

In a meeting held at Mantralaya last Tuesday with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Thane guardian minister Ganesh Naik and MP Dr Sanjiv Naik put forth the need of FOBs along the Ghodbunder Road stretch, owing to its fast development. The minister assured to talk to the chief minister for speedy implementation of this project.

"We have taken necessary permission from the MSRDC for constructing these four FOBs," said TMC chief Aseem Gupta, who was also present at the Mantralaya meeting.

According to statistics provided by the Thane traffic department, around 16 people have died along the stretch this year. Residents said this figure could have been curtailed if the authorities had taken timely action over the repeated pleas to construct FOBs. These could have also ensured the traffic flow didn't slow down because of pedestrians crossing the stretches.

"The Ghodbunder stretch has seen lots of development over the years and with the increasing number of traffic, there is a need to provide facilities for pedestrians also," said MP Dr Sanjiv Naik.

Traffic officials said there have been several mishaps along the Ghodbunder stretch. "There is a heavy flow of pedestrians at certain junctions like the Muchala Polytechnic, Kasarvadavali and Tatvagnyan Vidyapeeth. FOBs were required in these areas," said a cop manning the stretch.

Shalini Sahai, a resident of Kasarvadavli said that the stretch was always busy with heavy vehicles moving to and from Thane city. "I am scared to let my kids cross the roads by themselves and always make it a point that they are escorted. The authorities should not delay constructing these FOBs, as they are an urgent requirement."

Civic activists have welcomed the move but cautioned that the FOBs shouldn't be placed too high to discourage pedestrians, especially senior citizens and pregnant women from using them. "Some skywalks in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are not popular as they are placed at a height. They should ensure at least 5.5m clearance so that pedestrians can easily access them or provide escalators," said activist Chandrahas Tawde. 

 
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