If all goes well, Mumbai’s will finally get a dedicated lane for bus rapid transit service (BRTS) between Ghatkopar and Mankhurd in two years.
Tenders have been called for the ambitious project, which is expected to cut travel time on a public transport bus from south Mumbai to Mankhurd by 25 minutes, and is expected to be completed by October, said civic officials on Thursday.
“At present, it takes an hour to reach Mankhurd from south Mumbai due to heavy traffic. Once the Eastern Freeway (connecting PD’Mello Road and Ghatkopar), which is being constructed by the state road development corporation, is thrown open for traffic and the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road is widened, we hope to cut the travel time to 35 minutes,” said Rahul Shewale, civic standing committee chairman.
Under the BRTS project, the 4.3-km-long Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road will be widened to 60m and concretised at a contract cost of Rs207 crore. The stretch will have four lanes each on both sides, with the slipping (side) lane dedicated for BEST buses.
The widening plan involves concretising the asphalt service lanes and merging them with the main carriageways.
As part of the plan, separate ducts and subways for utility services will be created, Shewale added.
“When ready, GMLR will help ease traffic on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg and Sion-Panvel Highway,” he added.
G Agarwal, chief engineer of the civic roads department, said that this is the first time such a project is being considered by the department. “We want to complete the work within deadline,” he said.
But Mumbaikars are sceptical. They agree that the plan to decongest roads sounds nice, but the BMC should complete the work on time.
“Given the experience of earlier government projects, it looks unlikely the BMC will complete the GMLR work by deadline,” said Ashish Mehta, a Ghatkopar resident.
