Traffic woes will continue to be part of life for commuters on Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The MSRDC has decided to keep the ghat section of the expressway closed from noon to 4 pm every day until August 10, a leading daily reports. Starting August 11, one Mumbai-bound lane, next to the hills, will be closed for three months as the repair work gets done.
Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on the expressway and the old-highway during the blockade timings. LMVs are being diverted from Lonavala exit. They can reach Khopoli from Anda joint or re-join the Expressway ahead. From Tuesday, one of the Mumbai-bound lanes will be opened only before noon and after 4 pm.
In the wake of casualties due to the recent landslide, MSRDC consulted with technical experts from IIT, Geological Survey of India and Italian engineering firm Maccaferri which has worked in securing Konkan Railway, reports the newspaper. These experts will undertake rock-bolting measures to fix the loose boulders and they will install Maccaferri's hexagonal woven steel mesh to retain them close to the hills. In addition to this, a pre-fabricated tunnel might be installed to hold the falling rocks.
Until this work is completed, the Mumbai-bound lane will be closed off at a one kilometre stretch near Khandala tunnel.
