This story is from September 11, 2016

Retibunder-Kharegaon toll naka road to be widened soon

Work Likely To Begin By End Of This Year
Retibunder-Kharegaon toll naka road to be widened soon
THANE: The traffic movement between Nashik, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai will soon move faster while crossing the city limits as the national highway authority of India will widen the arterial one kilometre-long vital connect between Kharegaon toll naka and the Mumbra Reti Bunder road.
The decision was taken following a joint meeting between the state public works minister Eknath Shinde and the highway authorities late on Friday.
As per plans, the existing two-lane stretch will not only be widened to accommodate four lanes, but will also be concretized so that it remains well maintained throughout the year considering the heavy thoroughfare it witnesses daily.
Presently, the two-lane road converts into a bottle neck as it connects the four-lane Mumbra Retibunder road and the six-lane Nashik highway. The stretch witnesses thousands of heavy vehicular traffic using the stretch while moving between Nashik, Bhiwandi and Navi Mumbai.
“The stretch is a vital link between Mumbai-Pune and Mumbai-Nashik-Gujrat highways. Heavy vehicles use this route as it's cheaper and faster to reach their respective destinations. However, the narrow passage and the slope often results in traffic getting stuck at this stretch,” said a Thane traffic police official.
The need for widening this stretch was pending since a long time as several transporters and logistics companies that are based in Bhiwandi send and bring stock from the JNPT or Navi Mumbai preferred this route.
Accordingly, several requests were made to the authorities and elected representatives following which a joint survey with officials was scheduled after which it was decided to widen the stretch to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Vinay Deshpande, chief engineer at the NHAI who was present at the spot informed the work would likely be started by the year end, but only after a proper estimation and cost analysis of the project.
“The congestion at Kharegaon toll naka will soon be eased as the road will be widened improving movement of traffic between Nashik, Bhiwandi, Panvel and Navi Mumbai,” said Shinde.
Meanwhile, the road stretch between Bhiwandi and Thane will also undergo a safe makeover with certain accident prone spots to witness changes.
The Anjurfata to Kasheli toll naka and Mankoli will also undergo major repairs as Shinde directed officials from the state public works to repair broken dividers and to plug illegal -turns and depute traffic wardens at regular stretches. The contractor was also directed to regularly repair the road and maintain the stretch that witnesses heavy wear and tear due to excessive traffic.
As per plans, the existing two-lane stretch will not only be widened to accommodate four lanes, but will also be concretized so that it remains well maintained throughout the year considering the heavy thoroughfare it witnesses daily
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