Call it a blessing of the Ganesha or a dream that has come true because of the stretch of time. Yes, another road to relief for the Thanekars. The repair work of Mumbra bypass is about to be over and the stretch will be thrown open to vehicles this Monday.
The bypass is being repaired since May, Thane traffic police said, adding 90 per cent of the work is over.
"Public work department minister Chandrakant Patil will visit the bypass on September 10. If the engineer gives a nod, the bridge will be opened to vehicles," a senior Thane traffic cop said. "Ninety per cent work is over. Only some last touches are left," he said.
Heavy vehicles used to be diverted through the city because the bypass was closed. This led to massive traffic snarls. The news of the bypass being reopened brought great relief to Thanekars.
Motorists, who drive to and back to Mumbai, have complained of spending over four hours a day on the road.
"This is great news as heavy vehicles will stop choking the city," says Kasber Augustine, president, Thane citizens foundation (TCF).
TCF is an apex body of over 600 big housing complexes and societies in Thane and has been at the forefront in taking up the issue of congestion at civic, state and even national level.
They organised a human chain last Tuesday to protest against the congestion and mismanagement of traffic in Thane. They even tweeted about the issue to the Chief Minister and the Prime minister.
The residents think this is a temporary relief as post-monsoon work of the new eight-lane Kopri Bridge is likely to begin soon. This will again throw the traffic out of gear as this bridge provides connectivity between Thane east and west to motorists. "Hope they waive off the toll till the work of the new Kopri bridge gets over," winks Kasber.
ROAD HEAD
Public work department minister Chandrakant Patil will visit the bypass on September 10. The bypass is awaiting a final nod from the engi-neer, a senior Thane traffic cop said.
