Thane: Mumbra by-pass repair work will begin from April 24

Thane: Mumbra bypass repair work will begin from April 24 and motorists will have to plan their journey accordingly to avoid traffic congestion. Thane and Navi Mumbai traffic will be the worst affected. 80% vehicles coming from JNPT will be halted and only 20% vehicles will be relieved, the traffic department informed on Thursday.

To avoid confusion among motorists, the JNPT will issue tokens and info on brochures to motorists. If one fails to travel as per the token, motorists will be fined, informed the traffic department. The Public Works Department (PWD) will be undertaking repair work of the dilapidated Mumbra road over bridge which goes above the railway line. Not only will the ROB be repaired, but maintenance work of the 3-km Mumbra bypass will also be carried out.

“Mumbra bypass is the only link from JNPT to the western part of India, as it is a shorter route and easily accessible. Everyday almost 40,000 to 45,000 heavy vehicles use this road, daily. Once this road is closed, motorists will only have two other alternate roads. We will be giving the information brochures and tokens to avoid any confusion,” said Dr Amit Kale, DCP,Traffic department.

Kale stated, the real reason this work is being done in these two months is because the educational institutions will be shut and there will be no school vans or buses along the road. “Also, many would go out of town on vacation and there will be less traffic in the interior parts of the city,” said Kale. Even in 2009 the Mumbra by-pass was shut for almost four months as the concretisation work was being carried out.

The exception has been made to small vehicles, which will be allowed to ply through Mumbra. The heavy vehicles carrying the essential goods will be allowed to travel within the city.

The changed routes

1 Heavy Vehicles traveling towards Nasik can take turn from JNPT point, Palaspada, and turn to Chaukgaon, Chaukfata and later turning towards left via Kinhvali, they can go to National highway 3 and travel further.

2. The road via Uran fata that goes to Gujrat after right turn will be completely shut down. Vehicles can travel in the night 11 to morning 5 from Mahape circle,turn left and from Hotel Portica can go to Airoli circle and then further via Ananadnagar toll naka to Gujrat.

3. National highway number 8 – vehicles traveling from Ahmdabad Gujarat to JNPT will be shut down for vehicles They can travel via Vasai,vada and further via Kawad toll naka to Mumbai Nashik highway and further via Taloja to Kalmboli.

4. Vehicles traveling from Bhivandi to JNPT via Mumbra bypass can take other route from Mankoli naka.