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Mumbai: Peddar Road may finally get its much-awaited
flyover. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation
(MSRDC) has assigned England based consultancy firm,
Messers Ove Arup, to look into the feasibility of constructing
the flyover and also work out other alternatives, in
order to clear the traffic congestion.
Peddar Road, usually choked-up with traffic, is a crucial
link between the suburbs and South Mumbai. However,
it will take at least one year to decide whether the
construction can be undertaken or not. “ We are
checking whether a flyover is needed,” says Ramanath
Jha, the Managing Director of MSRDC. “If the report
says it is the best alternative, then we will build
the designs,’’ he adds.
But, MMRDA Commissioner, T Chandrashekhar firmly maintains,
“A flyover is very essential at that spot to check
the traffic load at Peddar Road.” The project
was earlier calculated to be worth Rs 125 crore. The
flyover, if constructed is liable to stretch from Lala
Lajpatrai College near Haji Ali to Wilson College, covering
a distance of almost 3kms. Previously, a German architect
had stipulated the construction period to be about a
year and a half.
This is the same project, which Peddar Road residents,
Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle had opposed in May 2002
and even discussed the issue with Chief Minister Vilasrao
Deshmukh, then. Other celebrities and residents living
in and around Peddar Road have welcomed the move.
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