Brace for traffic snarls in Dombivli

Thane traffic police announced traffic diversions from Thursday owing to the construction of a new four-lane bridge in Dombivli.

Commuters will face slow-moving traffic as the construction for the new bridge will start after the existing bridge near Star Colony on Manpada road is razed. The old bridge is a major entry-exit point to the city.

The demolition work has been undertaken by the public works department (PWD) and is expected to last for a month.

“The existing old bridge has been shut down and traffic cops are deployed to divert the vehicles to avoid congestion. On Thursday, the shutdown caused some traffic snarls in parts of Kalyan and Dombivli, as it was the first day of diversion,” said Satej Jadhav, senior traffic police inspector, Kalyan (East).

Heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, tempos and four-wheelers will be diverted to take the Shani mandir at Sagaon in Dombivli (East) to travel to other places in Dombivli.

Light vehicles can take the left turn near the Sai Baba temple near Star Colony, via Dombivli station road to Kalyan.

Commuters from Dombivli station travelling to Manpada chowk will have to take the left turn before Jakat naka to travel across Dombivli.

“The diversion was imposed all of a sudden. Many motorists were caught unawares and ended up going towards the bridge. This caused traffic congestion near the bridge for at least an hour in the morning. However, the on-duty traffic police managed to control the vehicle flow,” said Sunil Yadav, 34, a motorist who takes the old bridge to go to work every day.

The traffic police have also announced diversion routes for civic buses of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport (KDMT) and Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT).

Buses which were earlier plying on the Kalyan Shil road to Dombivli would now have to take a left turn from Suyog junction at Kalyan Shil road to Dombivli station via Tilak chowk.

“The diversions are chalked to ease the traffic from Kalyan Shil road to Dombivli, without commuters having to take the Star colony bridge road. We want the commuters to follow the new diverted routes until the new bridge is opened,” said Jadhav.

As per the public works department (PWD) officials, the old bridge is around 30 years old. It is quite narrow and was declared dangerous a year ago. The new four-lane bridge will ease the congestion in the area.

“The department is spending around ₹1.5 crore for building the new bridge. We will try completing the work before monsoon,” said PM Parale, officer in-charge, PWD.

Diversion by traffic cops

Route for vehicles heading from Kalyan Shil road: Kalyan Shil road - Manpada chowk- Manpada road-Dombivli city. Vehicles near at Sai Baba temple at Sagaon will be diverted to another route instead of the Star colony bridge

Route for heavy vehicles: Shani mandir road at Sagaon Dombivli (East) - Bhopar- Desle pada- Nandivli to other places in Dombivli

Route for small vehicles: Left turn near the Sai Baba temple at Star colony- Manpada road- Hanuman mandir road - PNT colony- Gandhinagar- Jakat naka- Dombivli station road –Kalyan

Route for all vehicles coming from Dombivli station to Manpada chowk: Left turn before Jakat naka - ice factory-Abhinav school road- DNC chowk- Kalyan shil road or MIDC region to go to other places in Dombivli

Route for civic buses: Left turn from Suyog junction at Kalyan Shil road – Pendarkar college road- Gharda circle- Tilak chowk to Dombivli station

About the bridge:

The bridge near Star colony on Manpada road in Dombivli (East) helps one enter and exit Dombivli city

Thousands of vehicles ply on this bridge every day

The bridge was declared dangerous a year ago

PWD has initiated the demolition of the old two-lane bridge and the construction of the new four-lane bridge for easy commute.

The work for the new bridge is expected to be completed before monsoon