TMC may look at underpass solution to ease city commute

Thane: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has plans to develop a network of underpasses under the three major junctions in Thane – Teen Haath Naka, Cadbury and Nitin Company - to ensure intra-city vehicular traffic movement doesn’t have to slow down or wait to cross over from one side of the highway to the other. The plan is to connect all roads converging at the junctions with dedicated lanes to provide seamless traffic flow.The civic body is currently finalizing the drawings following which it will be presented for approval before the general body.
According to the plan, the civic body will develop dedicated lanes under the ground connecting each road that meets at each of the three junctions. For example, traffic coming from Naupada at Teen Hath Naka and heading towards Modella check naka will simply descend in the underpass whose starting point will be a few metres before the junction and ascend at the other end thus skipping the grueling five minutes otherwise spent at the signal.
Presently, out bound traffic takes the flyover networks, but those vehicles travelling within the city have to cross the junctions leading to wastage of time. It easily takes 10 to 15 minutes to cross the signals.
Civic officials say the project, if implemented, will definitely ensure the traffic flow is constantly moving and will help save time and fuel. The civic body had conceptualized this plan six months back and surveyed the spots along with the traffic department and a consultant. A Mumbai-based consultant has been roped in for preparing the designs and will present them to the engineering department for their suggestions following which it will be fine-tuned and presented before the general body for approval. Sources in the department say the project could roughly cost Rs 500 cr and can be built in 18 months, but the final figures could be availed only after the feasibility report is submitted.