Several measures taken to manage rising traffic issues in Thane

The shutdown of Versova bridge has thrown traffic out of gear on Thane roads. As most vehicles are now using the Thane route, the motorists are experiencing traffic jams, that run into an hour or so daily. To tackle this chaotic situation, Thane will now take special measures like diverting heavy traffic through other routes than Thane, create parking lots for them, regulate their timing, and plug potholes among other things.

The Thane district administration has now upped its ante to control the chaos on city roads since the shutdown of the Versova bridge. In an emergency meeting called by Thane's guardian minister Eknath Shinde at the district collectorate office on Saturday it was decided to undertake several measures to bring the situation under control.

First and foremost is the movement of heavy traffic like huge containers and multi-axle vehicles from JNPT to Gujarat through Bhiwandi will be diverted through Chakan-Nashik-Dhule-Surat route.

Similarly, heavy containers will be parked at JNPT, and those coming from Gujarat will be stopped at Talasari check post or some other identified place. "These vehicles should be let in the city only after permission from the police control room daily," said an official from Thane district collectorate.

The godowns at Bhiwandi will remain closed on alternate days to avoid traffic jams. This is a good news for Thanekars, as it was also decided that no toll should be collected from people during traffic jam at Kharegaon toll naka to avoid further delay in movement of vehicles.

Moreover, an extended lane will be created at Mumbra bypass road for local vehicles. Efforts will be taken to plug the potholes on Bhiwandi bypass service road, so that light vehicles can move from there. The district administration and concerned authorities have been given two days to work on these measures and come up with a detailed plan for implementation.